Cameron Carter-Vickers isn’t expected to feature for Celtic again this season, but the American defender did provide a slight update on his injury recovery.

Carter-Vickers looked in good spirits during an interview with his agency ‘Sports Empire’ on Wednesday. The U.S. men’s national team defender has been out of action since October 23 after suffering a torn Achilles’ tendon against Sturm Graz in UEFA Europa League play.

Carter-Vickers, 28, remained a key leader for Celtic during the first half of the campaign, despite making only 13 appearances in all competitions. However, his long-term absence has ruled him out of the remainder of the Scottish season and ended Carter-Vickers’ chances of being part of the USMNT’s World Cup roster.

Although Carter-Vickers’ isn’t near 100% fit and healthy yet, he is focused to just getting back to playing and being back with his teammates on the field.

“I’m quite simple in terms of goals; just to play,” Carter-Vickers said in the interview. “Getting back fit, and playing football and be back playing in a winning team. That is only really ever my aim.”

Carter-Vickers’ absence has opened the door for Auston Trusty to jump into the Celtic starting lineup and USMNT squad over the past few months. Trusty has made 25 appearances on the season, with 23 of those coming since Carter-Vickers suffered his Achilles injury.

Celtic next hosts Dundee FC in Scottish Cup action on Saturday before facing Livingston and Kilmarnock in back-to-back league matches.