Cameron Carter-Vickers continues to endure frustrating loan spell at Bournemouth

With just three outings to his name up to this point, Cameron Carter-Vickers’ loan spell at Bournemouth is not going to plan.

The defender joined the Cherries on a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur last October, in hope of getting the 23-year-old some much needed game time.

The American has found it tough to break through under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho in his time at Tottenham, making just four first team appearances, all of which arrived in the domestic cup competitions in the 2016-2017 season.

Since then, he has had numerous loans at the likes of Swansea City and Sheffield United but other than the loan at the Swans he has failed to make more than 20 appearances in any of these spells after struggling with a number of injuries in recent times.

He initially signed in October just after the season began to help support and challenge the likes of Steve Cook, Lloyd Kelly and Chris Mepham for a regular starting berth in central defence. This idea was swiftly curtailed by an ankle injury before he had even featured for the Cherries’ first team which really set back his move to the club.

It took him all the way through until January to make his debut for the club, in the FA Cup success against Oldham Athletic at the start of the new year and has since featured in losses to Luton Town and Derby County in the Championship.

Bournemouth have found it tough in recent times and following this evening’s 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday they have now lost four successive league games for the first time this season. Carter Vickers was left out of the starting eleven for the defeat to Reading as well as the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

The 23-year-old has opened up in an interview with the Bournemouth official programme prior to this evening’s game, explaining just how tough his spell has been at the club so far.

“It was very frustrating. I want to play as many games as I can so obviously to come here, learn how the team plays and my role in that and then unfortunately I got injured after that, made it a very frustrating time for me.

“I still work with the physios, they’ve been good to work with here, and now I’m back playing again.

“I’m fully over the injury now, as with any injury you get some aches and pains when you come back and that’s just part of it. My ankle feels good now and I’m ready to go.”

With the club still in the FA Cup and games coming thick and fast in the league, you would think there will be plenty of chances for the Tottenham academy graduate to impress as the club look for an instant return to the Premier League.

Mepham and Cook are both in control of the starting positions at centre back at present, with Kelly, who can also feature at the heart of the defence, deployed at left back against the Owls. Boss Jason Tindall hasn’t been scared to rotate at central defence, although Cook, as captain has been a mainstay in the side when available for selection.

He may well be afforded an opportunity sooner rather than later though, with Mepham making a glaring mistake which led to the Owls’ goal just before half time and sparked three changes at the interval from Tindall.

With the door seemingly shut for chances to breakthrough at Spurs, earning a consistent run of games with Bournemouth could earn the young defender a permanent move or attract interest from elsewhere.

Carter-Vickers’ luck is bound to change. His injury record has affected multiple loan spells but with a regular run in the team, the American international may finally be allowed to prosper and reach his full potential.

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