Overused, perhaps, but the popular saying ‘patience is a virtue’ certainly rings true when talking about Celtic’s newest centre-back.

Indeed, Deadline Day signing Auston Trusty had to bide his time to make his presence felt at his new employers, following his £6 million move from English Championship side Sheffield United. However, the USA international has been an ever-present – in part due to his fellow countryman Cameron Carter-Vickers’ injury woes – in Brendan Rodgers’ side, starting the last eight games in all competitions for Celtic after making his debut against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. 

After his side’s 2-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership – which moved Celtic nine points clear of Rangers – Trusty was keen to admit how much he enjoys playing for the champions. He said: “I love it. It’s such a historic club.

“You see the passion from top to bottom in the organisation and with the fans and how they truly care. Every game is such an opportunity. Even though it’s game after game after game, it’s amazing and you still have the thrill and excitement every single time.

“Every game is important – every game is a final.”

Wednesday night was a special night for both Trusty and Carter-Vickers, as it marked the first game that the American defensive duo started as a pair together. Indeed, it was the former who replaced the latter late on against Bratislava back at the beginning of September, as Carter-Vickers’ recurring toe injury forced him out of action for nearly a month.

The former Colorado Rapids, Arsenal and Birmingham City man – who knows Carter-Vickers from his time in the USMNT setup – relished the chance to play alongside his fellow countryman, as the pair kept their second clean sheet in as many games together. He said: “It was good playing with Cam. I’ve known him for quite a bit now, so it was nice playing alongside him.

“Overall it was really good. I’ll do whatever is needed for the team. That’s my mindset and I think I’ve shown my capabilities to play any position along the backline. Whatever it is, I’ll give it my best go. 

“I’ll do whatever it takes for the team if the gaffer asks me to do it.”

Trusty’s side had to be patient on Wednesday night, with their two goals coming midway through the second half courtesy of fellow North American defender Alistair Johnston and Belgium midfielder Arne Engels – who converted from the penalty spot following Juan Portales’ foul on Kyogo Furuhashi in the box.

The defender was impressed with his side’s attitude, despite not getting the early goals that they were striving for at home. He said: “The Dundee game was good. We got the result and that was what we wanted to do. We made kind of a start and had chances in the beginning.

“If we’d scored those early on the game changes and shifts. It didn’t so it went on to the second half. But we know it’s going to come. We are a confident team. It’s just a moment in time in a game, so we have to keep doing our jobs.

“That’s what we did. Having patience was big. By playing out from the back with that style of play and having the ball so much, you might not score with the initial break, but eventually, we’ll wear down teams and it will go in our favour.

“You have to be patient to do your job.”

All eyes are now firmly fixed on the national stadium, as Celtic take on Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden this weekend. With two centre-back spots up for grabs, Trusty knows that his manager has a decision to make at the back, with Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and himself all vying for a start on Saturday evening in Mount Florida.

Despite this, the 26-year-old believes that Celtic’s strength in depth at the back can only be a good thing for the squad as a whole going forward. When asked if he believes that he will start at Hampden, he said: “I don’t know, I’m not the gaffer. I just show up and do my job. I think everyone here just shows up and does the job if they are asked to play.

“It’s an honour to play for him and this club. You just have to turn up and do your thing and be a good teammate. There is a lot of competition all over the pitch, I guess. But that is professional football. If you have competition then it means you are a good team, because you have quality players who are starting, or are not starting but who can be on the bench.

“It’s a privilege to have players who can come in and it makes no difference. It’s good to have that competition.”

No two ways about it, Trusty is keen to get the nod this weekend over his fellow defenders at Hampden. However, he admitted that he needs to brush up on his knowledge of what to expect when Celtic rock up to the ‘Home of Scottish Football’ on Saturday evening. He said: “I haven’t played there so it will be pretty special for me. Every stadium is a new experience for me here and I am excited about it.

“I haven’t seen clips of Hampden yet but I’m sure I’ll see some before the game.”