BRENDAN RODGERS revealed he had a couple of heart-to-heart discussions with Auston Trusty before he delivered his vote of confidence in the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup at Parkhead last night.
The USA international centre-back, bought for £6million from Sheffield United on deadline day, endured a torrid time in the 3-3 draw with Dundee at Dens Park four days earlier.
Trusty looked uncomfortable right from the start on Tayside after misjudging a long ball deep into the Celtic half which was cleared up by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The American team-mates were pressurised throughout the game by the energetic Simon Murray and, remarkably, it looked as though the champions were heading for their first defeat at the venue since 1989.
HEADS, YOU LOSE…Auston Trusty is too late to prevent Aaron Donnelly heading Dundee into a 3-2 lead over the champions at Dens Park.
Trusty was outjumped by Aaron Donnelly to a left-wing corner-kick that saw the Dens defender thump a header behind the stranded Kasper Schmeichel for a third goal for the hosts to give them an unlikely 3-2 advantage.
A penalty-kick in stoppage-time from Arne Engels threw the visitors a lifeline, but the display from the towering back-four operator clearly dismayed the Hoops manager and there were doubts about his first-team place.
However, Trusty got the nod to face Derek McInnes’ side ahead of Liam Scales and turned in a solid performance in the victory courtesy of goals from skipper Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda.
Rodgers admitted: “I spoke to Auston after the game on Tuesday and also the next day. We draw a line under it and he knows exactly where he stands.
“These are men, they’re not little boys. So, you can talk openly and honestly to them, that’s what every player will tell you.
“I talked about Auston the other night and you saw his response. I thought it was excellent. He was big, strong, powerful – and that’s what we expect from a Celtic centre-half.
“He was good in training and you could see his focus. That’s what I expect because in the big games, like against Leipzig and Atalanta, he’s been colossal for us.
“But if you’re going to have consistency, the level has got to be up there.”
PUSH OFF…Kilmarnock frontman Marley Watkins clatters into the back of Auston Trusty.
CRASH-LANDING…Trusty hits the deck with Watkins about to follow.
DOWN AND OUT…Trusty and Watkins are grounded in the incident Killie boss Derek McInnes amazingly insisted was a free-kick for his team. Should have gone to SpecSavers, Derek.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Did he have a point to prove? Listen, a lot of the time at Celtic, you may not have so much to do as a defender, especially at home.
“I always think you get your chance to shine away from home, where you’ve got to stand up and be strong. That’s your bread and butter.
“I thought he was brilliant on this occasion. I’m really pleased for him and the team because that was a really good win. The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect our dominance in the game.”
Turning his attention to the Champions League visit of Switzerland’s Young Boys on Wednesday, Rodgers added: “We know what the objective was for the tournament this season.
“I think we’ve done really well until this point, but we want to get over the line and into the knock-out stages.
“It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere and I’m excited about the opportunity we have.
“In the main, apart from Dortmund, we’ve shown up well in this competition – and we want to keep that going.”
McGREGOR, MAEDA GET THE JOB DONE
