Martin O’Neill has revealed that Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to light training — and hasn’t dismissed the possibility of the defender yet playing for Celtic this season.

The American has been sidelined since October with an Achilles injury and has only played 13 times this term.

Such was the severity of the issue that O’Neill had previously written him off for the campaign and ruled him out of the World Cup.

But the 28-year-old yesterday rejoined the group as they prepared for Sunday’s game away to Hibs, with his manager cautiously optimistic that he may yet play under him.

‘Cameron trained with us today, or he was out there,’ O’Neill explained. ‘He only did a little bit, so I think it’s the first time I’ve really seen him on the grass with the rest of the lads, which is great.

‘You’ll know him better than me, he would want to play Sunday if he could.

Martin O’Neill has hailed the influence of Cameron Carter-Vickers within the dressing room

‘That’s a distance away. He’ll not be happy with me saying this, but I have to be guided by the physios and the medical staff.

‘It’s great to see him out there. He’s been bursting to go, really. But he’s a bit off.’

The former Tottenham player will be desperate to help his team-mates retain their title and make a case for inclusion in the Mauricio Pochettino’s squad as the USA prepares to co-host this summer’s finals.

On the prospect of the defender making what was thought to be an unlikely Parkhead return in the coming three weeks, O’Neill added: ‘Knowing him, as [physio] Tim [Williamson] said to me, you wouldn’t write anything off.

‘But he (physio) just wants to not get excited from our viewpoint. Seeing someone out there doing a little bit of running is a totally different issue to getting ready for the games.’

Although O’Neill hasn’t been able to select the player across his two spells in charge this season, he’s aware of what he brings to the group in terms of support.

‘He’s been great, really great. He’s attended all the meetings, he’s in there,’ said O’Neill. 

Carter-Vickers hasn’t featured since injuring his Achilles against Sturm Graz in October

‘You can see why he’s been a big figure here. He’s in the dressing room with the players, he doesn’t miss any of these meetings that we have in the mornings. He’s there all the time.

‘So, he’s a big influence. The players look up to him, which is great.’

Meanwhile, Tomas Cvancara might have played his last game for the club as he faces up to the prospect of surgery.

The Czech forward hasn’t been in the last two match-day squads, with O’Neill initially claiming that the on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach player had to do more to get a game.

However, the situation has now moved on with Cvancara’s troublesome groin possibly needing an operation.

‘He’s got a bit of a groin strain,’ said O’Neill. ‘They’re talking about the possibility of getting it seen to now. We’ll have a look at that.

‘When I say get it seen to, that might involve a small operation or something like that. But we don’t know yet at this minute. He has to go for some more tests.

‘If he had the operation, then you definitely wouldn’t see him again. But I’d like the specialist to have another look at it.’