Auston Trusty may have arrived at Celtic with a hefty £6 million price tag and Champions League pedigree, but he’s already facing the harsh reality of a battle to even make Brendan Rodgers’ matchday squad.
That’s the verdict of former Livingston coach and Clyde 1 pundit Marvin Bartley, who believes the arrival of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has knocked Trusty even further down the pecking order at Parkhead.
The USA international, signed from Sheffield United on deadline day last summer, was expected to be a key figure alongside countryman Cameron Carter-Vickers this season, especially after his pre-season showings. But after Liam Scales started the league opener against St Mirren, and Simpson-Pusey signed on loan from Manchester City, Bartley reckons Trusty now sits fourth in line.
“Trusty was £6m, and if we’re going by the weekend, Scales is now ahead of him – he’s now fourth choice centre-half at Celtic,” Bartley said on Clyde 1 SSB. “With Trusty being there as well, and now you’ve brought this young man in from Manchester City, you imagine he’s coming up here to play, not to just sit around and be third or fourth choice.”
Simpson-Pusey arrives with a strong reputation, named Premier League 2 Player of the Year and tipped for a bright future by Pep Guardiola. Celtic didn’t fight off significant interest to bring him in on loan just to leave him warming the bench.
Trusty has shown flashes of quality during pre-season and looked assured when he came off the bench against St Mirren, slotting in as Scales shifted to left-back. But it’s clear his place isn’t guaranteed.
Trusty may yet prove himself a vital part of Celtic’s campaign, but for now, he’s facing a stiff fight to avoid becoming a £6m back-up to a back-up.
