Celtic centre-back Auston Trusty has discussed his delayed return to Glasgow following a difficult summer off the pitch as Celtic prepare to travel to Kilmarnock.
Celtic continue their domestic campaign with a trip to Kilmarnock. After a 1-0 opening Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee, attention turns to an opponent looking to respond after a 4-3 defeat at St Johnstone in their season opener.
Auston Trusty on His Summer Off the Pitch
Defender Auston Trusty was in the starting line-up for Celtic’s league-opening win less than a month after his final World Cup appearance with the United States. The 27-year-old reached the round of 16 at the home World Cup and scored in a 3-2 group-stage defeat by Turkey.
Trusty said his father was in hospital immediately after the tournament, a family situation that required extra time off and delayed his return to Glasgow. He missed a significant portion of pre-season while dealing with those circumstances.
The American said he has had little opportunity to take in his World Cup experience because of the events that followed it and his subsequent return to pre-season. Despite missing much of the preparation period, he believes there is more to come from both himself and the squad as the campaign develops.
Focus on Kilmarnock
Celtic will play on Kilmarnock’s new hybrid grass pitch for the first time. Trusty acknowledged that the surface will be different, but said Celtic’s focus must remain on their own performance.
Kilmarnock were beaten 4-3 at St Johnstone in their opening fixture, but Trusty stressed that Celtic cannot take their opponents lightly. He described Kilmarnock as a good team with good players and said Celtic must look inward, play their own game and follow the Celtic way.
Trusty’s message is that Celtic must concentrate on their own standards as they continue the season away from home.
