Celtic star told he is now ‘fourth choice’ centre-back after arrival of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic confirmed their seventh senior signing of the summer on Tuesday.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey arrives on loan from Manchester City for the duration of the campaign and will do battle with the likes of Liam Scales and Auston Trusty for regular starts.

City manager Pep Guardiola loves Simpson-Pusey, and clearly feels sending him out on loan to the Hoops will further his development.

Pusey wants to win the Scottish Premiership and excel in Europe with Celtic, but where will he end up in the central defensive pecking order?

• READ MORE: Celtic make big Champions League decision after ‘discussions’ with SPFL

Marvin Bartley thinks Auston Trusty is now fourth choice Celtic centre-back

Clyde 1 Superscoreboard pundit and Livingston coach Marvin Bartley reckons Simpson-Pusey has been signed to play regularly for Celtic.

And for him, that means Scales will be third choice and Trusty fourth choice – that’s despite the American costing Celtic just as much as Cameron Carter-Vickers at £6m.

Bartley was responding live on radio to a Celtic fan caller, who wants to see Scales behind both Carter-Vickers and Simpson-Pusey, with Trusty coming up last in the selection queue.

Bartley said: “It’s a massive shout. With Trusty being there as well, and now you’ve brought this young man in from Manchester City, you imagine he’s coming up here to play, not to just sit around and be third or fourth choice.

“I think Trusty was £6m, and if we’re going by the weekend, Scales is now ahead of him, he’s (Trusty) now fourth choice centre-half at Celtic.

“Listen, you end up fighting in a lot of competitions. You’ll be in Europe and the three competitions domestically. I’m sure they’ll all get a go.

“But it will be interesting to see who Brendan Rodgers has as his starting two, whether Scales keeps his place or he has to lose it, or the new boy comes in beside Carter-Vickers straight away.”

Big season for Trusty at Celtic

With increased competition for places at centre-back, Trusty will need to do more to convince both his manager and the fans.

A costly arrival from Sheffield United last summer, Trusty came with big expectations given the price tag. But he’s failed to live up to that thus far.

Trusty did impress in the Champions League league phase as Rodgers preferred him to Scales for the big European encounters.

But eventually it was Scales who ended last season ahead of Trusty, with both ending up playing the same number of games in the league and Champions League.

Scales scored more goals and provided more assists, but fans are yet to be convinced by him too. Will Simpson-Pusey prove he is most able alongside Carter-Vickers this season?