AUSTON TRUSTY has no intention of becoming a two-time loser at Hampden on Sunday afternoon.
Celtic’s USA international centre-back was voted Man of the Match when Martin O’Neill’s team overcame Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side 3-1 in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at the venue in November last year.
However, just a month later, with Wilfried Nancy taking over from the Irishman, Trusty was on the receiving end of a shocker as the team folded to a 3-1 loss to St Mirren in the showpiece showdown.
SMILES BETTER…Auston Trusty with his Man of the Match award after the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph at Hampden in November last year.
Now the £6million recruit from Sheffield United on the summer deadline day in 2024 is back at the national stadium to again square up to the Paisley side – and is determined to dodge another banana skin.
Despite the December setback, the 27-year-old defender said: “We love it, playing at Hampden is really cool.
“The fixture and just the stadium itself is a good atmosphere all round, so I’m excited by that.
“Trophies are what this club is about, it’s what this organisation is about, it’s what we try to do every time we step foot on the field.
“So, it’s a chance to win another trophy for this organisation and it means everything to us.”
TALK OF THE TOWN…Auston Trusty speaks to the media ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final encounter against St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday.
Discussing the inspirational qualities of 74-year-old interim boss O’Neill, Trusty, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “We were on a run when he was here the first time and obviously we had a tough spell.
“Then when he came back, he just continued from when he left off.
“His leadership and presence around the team and the organisation – the players really respond well to it.”
The champions still have five games to play in their pursuit of a fifth successive Premiership title, but this weekend is all about the Scottish Cup.
Trusty added: “We take it game by game, but to get another win under our belts and to get to another Final, the chance to win another trophy, it’s only positive.”
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