Last week, Tottenham Hotspur recalled Cameron Carter-Vickers from his season-long loan with Sheffield United. This week Tottenham sent the 20-year-old U.S. international back out on loan to another English Championship club: Ipswich Town. It’s an odd scenario, but this Carter-Vickers loan is actually a good thing for all three clubs involved.
Carter-Vickers is a promising young center back for the USMNT. Born in England to an American dad (who played basketball overseas, where he met Cameron’s English mother), he made his senior debut with the U.S. in the friendly against Portugal in November. He’s also made a couple dozen starts with the U.S. U18-U23 teams.
The Cameron Carter-Vickers loan to Ipswich Town will help the young American improve long term. Photo: @Official_ITFC | Twitter
Carter-Vickers joined the Tottenham system 10 years ago but he hasn’t had many chances with the senior team, appearing four times, but none in Premier League competition. He was sent out on loan to Sheffield United in August and scored in his debut with the newly promoted side, a 1-0 win over Bolton.
In all the 6-1 defender made 18 appearances for the Blades. But United coach Chris Wilder said with the signing of Ryan Leonard earlier this month he didn’t envision the Carter-Vickers loan providing the youngster the playing time he needs.
"I don't think it was fair to stockpile players,” Wilder said. “I want to keep that good relationship with Spurs and I was totally up front with them that I couldn't guarantee him the game time he could get elsewhere.
"We thank the boy for his contribution."
That’s some thoughtful pragmatism from Wilder.
Tottenham knows it doesn’t currently have room for CCV to make regular appearances with the club either. When healthy, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen make up one of the best center-back duos in the Premier League. Spurs also have recent signee Davinson Sanchez and a handful of other players who can fill in at the position.
So Tottenham opted for another Carter-Vickers loan, this time shipping him off to Ipswich, a club six spots below Sheffield United in the league table.
| Town have completed the signing of Cameron Carter-Vickers from @SpursOfficial on loan until the end of the season #itfc
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 19, 2018
Ipswich has the sixth worst defense in the Championship, so CCV will hope that allows him to earn a starting spot and show his value to the club. If the Carter-Vickers loan is successful, he might start to convince Mauricio Pochettino he deserves playing time with Tottenham next season. Either way, he has a better chance to play for Ipswich right now than Spurs.
“I think they just want me to work hard and try to get as many games as I can and just try to improve as a player, help the team and hopefully do well,” Carter-Vickers said.
| We caught up with Cameron Carter-Vickers after the defender joined on loan from Spurs until the end of the season #itfc pic.twitter.com/nMpe7RMGDc
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 19, 2018
It’s not every day you see a player recalled from a loan early only to be sent right back out on loan, but in this case, it was the best-case scenario for all involved. Sheffield United stays in the good graces of Tottenham, which may be more willing to loan players to the club in the future. Ipswich gets a young, ambitious player who can help shore up the defense. Carter-Vickers gets his best chance to earn playing time, which can only help his career and his value for Spurs, either as a future starter or as a commodity to sell.
Perhaps most importantly from a U.S.-centric perspective, the Cameron Carter-Vickers loan gives the American his best chance to develop into a productive USMNT player.
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