Auston Trusty has revealed his summer was a blur as he balanced Celtic's Double-winning season, a World Cup appearance, and his dad's serious health battle.
Personal challenges amid professional success
The 27-year-old American defender scored for the USA at the World Cup, but upon landing back home, he was met with a difficult personal situation as his father, Walt, fell seriously ill.
Trusty said: "Yeah, I wanted to. When I got home, unfortunately, my dad was in a really serious health situation. So I literally landed and I had to go see him first thing. So I didn't really get too much of a moment to take it in across my whole off-season. That's why I had extra time. I still haven't done it yet."
He added: "I really need to, just because one, the Celtic season we had and to finish in that fashion. But also to get called into the World Cup, make the World Cup team, start and then score a World Cup goal. Those are dreams come true. It's such an amazing period, so I really have to do it because that's what football is all about. But I will, I will."
Thrown into the deep end
Trusty missed most of Celtic's pre-season but was thrown straight into Monday's flag-unfurling match against Dundee. He said: "Yeah, I mean, it was a week I had off then thrown right back into it. But it's good. I think Mauricio Pochettino over there had us working really, really hard. The guys who weren't getting as many minutes as we wanted. So obviously my dad's stuff went on too, so everything kind of felt like a blur. I didn't feel like I stopped, so I just continued on from last season and from the World Cup."
With Liam Scales suspended, Trusty partnered fellow American Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence as Benjamin Nygren got Celtic's title defence off to a winning start. Trusty was thrilled to see Carter-Vickers back after a nine-month absence with an Achilles injury.
He said: "Yeah, it's good. I didn't know who I was going to play with. I didn't know I was going to play. Scalesy was out, but whether it's Scalesy or Dano (Dane Murray) or Cam, it doesn't matter who I play with. But I know we'll get the job done."
Jota and Martin O'Neill updates
Celtic fans were lifted on Friday when long-term injury absentee Jota returned to first-team training at Lennoxtown. Trusty said: "Yeah, obviously he's been in the facility, so I've seen him a bunch. I think he trained the other day too. It's good for him. He's a good guy. And when he gets his feet back and feeling confident, I'm sure he'll be a great addition. Obviously when he came here last year, he only played a little bit of the season and then obviously he got injured. So I haven't really got to experience what he could really do throughout the entire season. So I'll be really, really happy when he comes back."
Trusty also wished veteran boss Martin O'Neill a speedy recovery after he was hospitalised for a small procedure. He added: "We haven't seen him. I didn't know anything that went on. But obviously to hear anybody in the hospital, you don't want that. It seems like he's in good spirits and he's good, so we'll see him soon."
