Celtic were handed an overnight scare as Auston Trusty was stretchered off during the United States' 3-2 World Cup defeat to Turkey, only to play down the severity of the ankle injury he sustained in the second half.
As reported by The Herald , the 26-year-old had given himself and the rest of us watching a very different kind of storyline to follow just three minutes in, controlling a deep corner at the back post before firing home. It was the kind of moment that reminds you why Celtic moved to tie him down on a reported four-year deal last summer.
The night turned, though, when Trusty appeared to roll his ankle badly in the second half and was eventually carried off the pitch. With Celtic's pre-season having begun on June 26 and Champions League qualifiers already casting their shadow over the summer , you can understand why the phones were probably busy in Glasgow before the final whistle had even gone.
Thankfully, Trusty has since moved to settle nerves. Speaking via FOX Sports, he said: "I don't know. I can't really react to it. Honestly, I am in my head right now. I rolled my ankle pretty bad." He followed that up by adding: "I'll be all right… I heard a little something, but I'll be fine. No worries."
The phrase 'I heard a little something' is the kind of thing that requires a little faith, and supporters who've watched Cameron Carter-Vickers navigate persistent injury problems over recent seasons will understand the instinct to urge caution. Trusty is not merely cover at Celtic; he arrived as a genuine first-team option on the left side of a back four or three, valued precisely for the pace and athleticism that also makes him vulnerable to the kind of ankle stress that comes with playing at this level of intensity.
The USMNT are short on left-footed centre-backs at this tournament, and any prolonged absence would force a reshuffle that drags a full-back into the middle. That problem is as acute for the US coaching staff as it is for us. Trusty is expected to be available for America's Round of 32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina next week, and the assumption is that Celtic and USA medical staff will be coordinating closely on his management in the build-up.
Celtic have a pre-season friendly against AC Milan confirmed for July 25 , which gives a rough sense of the timeline in which Trusty needs to be back and building fitness. If this ankle settles down quickly, there's every reason to think he gets through the tournament and arrives at pre-season training only marginally behind schedule. Let's be honest, though – we'll all breathe easier when he's back out on that pitch for the US looking comfortable.
Get well soon, Auston. Mon The Hoops.
