Auston Trusty has had an indifferent campaign this season, like many of his Celtic teammates.
For Trusty himself, it is not an ideal time to produce such performances because the American has a home World Cup coming up this summer.
Before the March international break, Celtic’s hard-hitting centre-back had only been selected by Mauricio Pochettino once for USMNT duty.
But it seems a recent trip across the Atlantic has done Trusty the world of good because he has boosted his chances of playing on world football’s biggest stage, as former USMNT internationals Marcelo Balboa and Jimmy Conrad discussed on CBS.
Balboa: “When I saw the line-up against Portugal. I was glad to see Trusty in the game. I feel this is a guy who deserves a chance.
“He did well in Colorado. In Scotland, he is doing well there. I thought it was a better performance.”
Conrad: “Auston Trusty, I think, did a lot. I think he is one of the players who did the most for him over the March window. I don’t know if he is on (the plane) just yet, but I feel like he is.”
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Auston Trusty lauded for pushing his way into USMNT World Cup contention
Playing at the World Cup is the dream of all professional footballers. It’s the biggest stage of them all, as Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren has just learned after guiding Sweden to North America.
But having the chance to play at a World Cup on home soil is a different animal altogether.
Unfortunately, Cameron Carter-Vickers’ season-ending injury in October has ruined his chances of doing that, but Trusty still has a huge chance.
During his recent trip back home, the USMNT were smashed 5-2 by Belgium in an international friendly, with the Celtic man watching from the bench.
Pochettino then started Trusty against Portugal, and despite losing 2-0, he was lauded for his performance, especially the ‘mentality’ he showed.
That was discussed by USMNT Hall of Fame member Balboa, and former USMNT stars Conrad and Charlie Davies.
Balboa: “I walked away from the TV p____doff (at USMNT performances). P____d off because of the mentality they had. Mentality is everything. You guys know this.”
Davies: “100%. On the national team, in particular. Mentality is everything.”
Balboa: “It wasn’t there. I get you are tired from playing in your club. Damn, you are so effing close to being on the World Cup team. I would have busted my a_s. I would have walked off that field dead.
“I just kind of felt like they took the beating (during the 5-2 defeat to Belgium). That’s not our team.”
Conrad: “That’s the Belgium game. Let’s use that as a segue into the Portugal game. Did you see some performances there? I felt that Auston Trusty was a player trying to make the most of his minutes.”
Balboa: “When I saw the line-up against Portugal. I was glad to see Trusty in the game. I feel this is a guy who deserves a chance.
“He did well in Colorado. In Scotland, he is doing well there. I thought it was a better performance.”
Conrad: “Auston Trusty, I think, did a lot. I think he is one of the players who did the most for him over the March window. I don’t know if he is on (the plane) just yet, but I feel like he is.”
Davies: “I thought Auston Trusty was fantastic from what he needed to do to put himself in the conversation, because remember, in Pochettino’s mind, yeah, he’s athletic, he can get around.
“But I don’t think they thought with the ball at his feet, we can count on him, and I think he made some good decisions. He had some good tackles.
“So, from that standpoint, we can see, ‘we can trust him to be involved in the game.’ Being left-footed, by the way, I think that helps him. He voted himself in to be in the conversation of being in the 26.”
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