Anthony Carter started the season with a bang for Santa Clara. He was a regular in the first two games. These were big European matches against Varazdin in the second qualifying round of the Conference League. Carter looked set to lead the line once more.
Things shifted quickly after that. He was on the bench when the team traveled to Northern Ireland to face Larne. Then, something unexpected happened. The 30-year-old Australian forward simply vanished from the squad lists. His name was nowhere to be found in recent call-ups.
Many wondered what had happened to the prolific goal-scorer. Our colleagues at Record finally got some answers. They spoke directly with Santa Clara’s coach, Vasco Matos. The coach confirmed that Carter had hit a snag. He described it as a “setback” that occurred last week.
Matos explained that Carter is still undergoing tests. However, he kept the exact nature of the injury under wraps. This is a crucial player for Santa Clara. Last season, Carter was the top scorer in the Second League while playing for Alverca. His sudden absence creates a real puzzle for the team and its fans.