NafisaCeltic have suffered another defensive setback ahead of their crucial Europa League meeting with Celta Vigo, with the Hoops now facing the prospect of tackling Thursday night’s opponents without another senior centre-back.
Martin O’Neill’s side head into the European fixture under pressure to deliver after a disappointing start to their league-phase campaign.
Defeats against Ferencvaros and Benfica have left Celtic searching for their first points in the competition, making the visit of the Spanish side an important opportunity to get their European ambitions back on track.
Sunday’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Hearts offered a welcome boost, with Celtic producing an attacking display that helped ease some of the pressure surrounding O’Neill after consecutive defeats against Rangers and Benfica.
However, the challenge against Celta Vigo will be different, and Celtic need to ensure their domestic improvement carries over into Europe.
The preparations have now been complicated by a late team-news development, with one of the club’s defensive options ruled out for the match.
Auston Trusty ruled out against Celta Vigo
Shaun Maloney has confirmed that Auston Trusty will miss Celtic’s Europa League clash with Celta Vigo because of a private matter.
Maloney handled media duties ahead of the fixture, with O’Neill absent as he deals with a personal matter of his own.
The assistant manager was asked about Trusty after the American defender was missing from training before the European encounter.
Speaking to Sky Sports Scotland, Maloney said: “Auston Trusty has got a private matter, so he won’t make tomorrow.”
The confirmation means Celtic will have to prepare for the match without Trusty, adding another complication to their defensive planning.
No further details about the private matter were provided, and the immediate focus will be on how Celtic manage his absence against a Celta Vigo side looking to take advantage of their opponents’ difficult European start.
Celtic facing defensive selection problems
Trusty’s absence leaves Celtic with limited options at centre-back ahead of a match they badly need to win.
According to the report, Liam Scales and Dane Murray are the only fit senior centre-backs available, leaving Maloney and O’Neill with little room for manoeuvre.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to training but is not expected to be ready for Thursday night, while Alistair Johnston is also set to miss out despite making progress in his recovery.
That leaves Celtic likely to rely heavily on the defensive options used during their impressive victory over Hearts.
Murray has been given increased first-team responsibility in recent weeks, while Scales started at centre-back on Sunday and helped create Kieran Tierney’s opening goal.
Colby Donovan is also expected to continue at right-back after impressing during Johnston’s absence.
The young defender’s performances have been encouraging, but the European assignment will present a different test, particularly if Celta Vigo manage to put Celtic’s makeshift defensive arrangements under sustained pressure.
Must-win European night for O’Neill’s side
Celtic’s attacking display against Hearts demonstrated what the team can produce when confidence and rhythm return. However, the Europa League presents a much less forgiving challenge, and the Hoops cannot afford to overlook the defensive side of their game.
Their defeats against Ferencvaros and Benfica have left them without a point in the league phase so far, increasing the importance of Thursday’s encounter.
Trusty has endured a mixed spell at Celtic, but his availability would have provided another option for a match in which defensive concentration could prove decisive.
Without him, Scales and Murray may have to shoulder much of the responsibility at the heart of the defence, with Donovan potentially continuing on the right.
Celtic will need their back line to remain organised and disciplined while the attacking players attempt to reproduce the sharpness they showed against Hearts.
The 7-1 victory was a major confidence boost, but Celta Vigo are likely to pose a different tactical challenge from the one Celtic faced at the weekend.
Celtic must respond despite latest setback
The absence of Trusty is an unwanted development for Celtic at a time when O’Neill’s squad needs to build momentum.
The manager has already had to contend with scrutiny over recent results, and a strong European performance would help demonstrate that the victory over Hearts can provide the foundation for a more consistent run.
Maloney’s confirmation means Celtic must now focus on the defensive options available rather than those missing from the squad.
With Carter-Vickers not yet ready to return and Johnston also expected to sit out, the pressure will be on the available defenders to deliver.
Celtic have shown that they can score goals in abundance when things click going forward. Thursday’s challenge is to combine that attacking quality with the defensive solidity required to secure their first Europa League points of the campaign.
Trusty will not be involved, but Celtic still have an opportunity to respond to their European setbacks. Whether their depleted defensive options can withstand Celta Vigo’s challenge could prove crucial to the outcome.
Nafisa
