It’s a long way from Beechwood to Inglewood on the global football landscape.
Auston Trusty will miss out on the unique experience of playing at the former venue on Sunday, thanks to the authorities’ craven decision to switch Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot from Beechwood Park to the more anodyne surroundings of Rugby Park.
As Trusty moves into a crucial phase of the season, the USA defender understandably has half an eye on the prospect of lining up for his country when they open their World Cup Finals campaign on home soil at the stunning SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 13.
That red letter date in California must be placed on the back burner for now as Trusty focuses on Celtic’s bid to ensure what has been a truly chaotic season ends with a silver lining.
The 27-year-old remains bullish about the Scottish champions’ prospects of retaining their domestic crown in what has become an increasingly intriguing Premiership title race with leaders Hearts and old rivals Rangers.
Celtic and USA defender Auston Trusty is keen to stake his claim for the World Cup
Celtic defender Trusty on international duty with the United States
Reclaiming the Scottish Cup, which was surrendered after a penalty shoot-out against Aberdeen at Hampden last May, is also a major motivation for Celtic as they recover momentum under manager Martin O’Neill following the brief but cataclysmic tenure of Wilfried Nancy.
Trusty freely admits to possessing scant knowledge about fourth round opponents Auchinleck and is anxious to avoid any unnecessary drama against the West of Scotland Premier League side.
‘You see crazy stories happening every year in the cups,’ he said. ‘We can’t take anything lightly. When you have that mindset, that’s when things go wrong.
‘I’m afraid I don’t know much about them. We can’t take anything lightly. In every way, we have to treat it the way we treat every other game. Interesting things can happen and it comes down to your mindset.’
Trusty is back at the heart of an orthodox back four as O’Neill looks to restore stability and direction to Celtic for the second time in this tumultuous campaign.
Auston Trusty at the SoFi Stadium in California back in 2023 during his spell at Arsenal
Back to back clean sheets in league wins over Dundee United and Falkirk have steadied a ship which listed desperately under Nancy, conceding 18 goals in the Frenchman’s eight match reign which saw him deploy a porous 3-4-3 formation.
Trusty diplomatically insists he is content in either set-up but is clearly appreciative of O’Neill’s impact.
‘I’m comfortable in every position,’ he said. ‘One of the benefits I’ve had as a player is being really adaptable.
‘Whether that’s playing in the middle, on the left of a three, on the right of a three, left-back, right-back. I’m comfortable with it all.
‘The group has rallied around Martin coming back. We have picked up where we left off under him previously.
‘It’s about familiarity. All the guys on his staff have played here in the club’s deep history.
‘They know what it is, they know what it’s about and they’ve come back in and we’ve reacted pretty well to them. Celtic has been dominant playing a certain way, with a certain idea. It’s back to basics and that’s what you get.’
Frustration continues to simmer among Celtic fans over the club’s failure to add any new recruits so far in the current transfer window but Trusty is unfazed.
‘We still have a really strong squad,’ he added. ‘ I think we have the strongest squad in Scotland.
‘The mindset is to retain the league title. We had a blip in the season when things didn’t go our way.
‘We’ve had two good wins in our last two league games and it’s just about continuing this path.
Trusty receives instructions from former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy
Trusty is adjusting to the coaching of Martin O’Neill after Wilfried Nancy’s turbulent spell
‘Not everything always goes your way in football. This time last year, I’m not sure how clear we were. It’s not always going to go amazingly your way.
‘This is the spot we’re in in the league table right now and I have full belief in the squad to get there.’
It remains to be seen how much O’Neill decides to rotate his squad against their sixth tier opponents this afternoon. With a crucial Europa League assignment in Bologna on Thursday night followed by next Sunday’s pivotal clash with league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle, there will be a temptation to rest some key players.
Trusty has been a mainstay in recent weeks but insists he is not entertaining thoughts of being rested.
‘I do what the team needs,’ he said. ‘It’s not my decision. I go out there every day to prove that I can play. If they want rest people, it’s not up to me. If I’m called upon, I’ll do my duty.’
Trusty’s club form will be key to ensuring he remains in USA coach Mauricio Pochettino’s plans for the World Cup.
Capped five times so far, Trusty started his country’s most recent game when they impressed in beating Uruguay 5-1 in a friendly in November.
Mauricio Pochettino talks to his USA players during their friendly win over Uruguay
‘Pochettino has been great and he is a fantastic coach,’ said Trusty. ‘All of us really respect him. We want to play for him any time we can.
‘That game against Uruguay was described as his best win ever as our national coach. We have to keep continuing that momentum.
‘It’s my goal and my dream to play at the World Cup. To play on home turf in the States and represent America would obviously be a dream come true.
‘Although I’m not in the States right now, I’m on social media and all of the hype surrounding it is coming up.
‘Once the NFL season tapers off, it’ll be World Cup time. Our group games are all on the west coast and although I’m from the east coast in Philadelphia, hopefully my family will make it to our games.’
Right now, California must wait. For Trusty and Celtic, avoiding the mother of all cup shocks in Ayrshire is all that matters.
