Trusty will miss crunch Premiership clash with Rangers at Ibrox if appeal against red card vs Hibs is booted out
07:02, 24 Feb 2026Updated 15:49, 24 Feb 2026
Auston Trusty
As we approach the final stretch of the Premiership season, Celtic‘s lack of depth remains an issue as they try and limp towards a 56th title.
The champions sit third after Sunday’s home defeat to Hibs – their seventh of the season – as yet another chance to claw back the gap on leaders Hearts was missed.
Auston Trusty received his second red card in five league appearances after he was sent packing in the 2-2 draw with Hearts in January.
This time, it was for swiping an arm at Jamie McGrath prior to a Celtic corner. Whether you think it eas justified or not, Trusty didn’t need to do it in the first place.
Celtic have appealed the decision, but recent history suggests they’ll have to do without the American for Sunday’s trip across Glasgow for a vital meeting with Rangers.
Based on his recent form, some may argue that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But the Hoops aren’t blessed with experienced options as back up.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ absence has been felt keenly this season, but e’s been out for a while and there’s been an entire transfer window to fix it.
Even back in August, centre back was a position fans wanted addressed. It wasn’t.
Rewind to October and Celtic headed to Tynecastle to face the league leaders. Trusty was only just returning from his own injury and only fit enough for the bench.
Celtic’s Dane Murray (R) looks dejected after scoring an own goal
Man City loan signing Jamai Simpson-Pusey was nowhere to be seen, which was a theme of his short-lived Celtic career.
That meant Brendan Ridgers paired Liam Scales with Dane Murray and it did not go well.
The academy graduate lashed the ball into his own net after just eight minutes, pulled his leg out the way of Alexandros Kyziridis’ second half shot for 2-1 after the break then conceded a penalty by fouling Claudio Braga for 3-1.
The same centre back pairing could well be thrown together for a must win Old Firm derby behind enemy lines.
There is the option of Benjamin Arthur, signed on loan from Brentford on Deadline Day.
He’s played a total of 16 minutes for Celtic, which came as a sub after trust’s dismissal on Sunday and so far, looks to have taken Simpson-Pusey’s role as a young English centre back who barely appears.
Throwing him into that environment for his first start is unlikely to be a gamble Martin O’Neill is willing to take, so the hope will be that Murray shows up better than he did in Edinburgh.