Celtic are heading into the Glasgow Derby looking to get a win, as always, and go another step closer to the league title. With nine games left to be played in the Scottish Premiership this season, it is unlikely that the result of this game will have any real impact on the destination of the trophy. But despite that, it is always important to come out on top in this fixture.
While the rivalry has been one-sided in recent years, Celtic did lose the last Glasgow Derby. It ended 3-0 at Ibrox earlier this year.
Celtic will surely be looking to make that right. Interestingly, one of their players could so easily have been turning out for the Rangers this weekend, if things had turned out a bit differently.
Celtic signed Auston Trusty from Sheffield United last summer. But it looks like the Rangers had tried to bring him to Glasgow before that. As reported by the Daily Record, the American international said:
"I do remember [the Rangers move]. At the time I was one of the best centre-backs in the Championship after a really good year at Birmingham.
“I had a lot of options thankfully and it was a really blessed position to be in. Rangers were interested and there were talks. But I wasn’t really engaged with that process and there were other teams interested as well.
“I am really happy with the way it worked out for me on this side of Glasgow and this team. It all worked out in my favour."
Celtic starter confirms there were talks to join Rangers
So, those talks must have taken place in the summer of 2023. Back then, Trusty was at Arsenal but he had spent the previous season out on loan at Birmingham City.
He did well for the English club as well. Trusty was voted Player of the Season by Birmingham City's supporters.
Thankfully, Trusty did not end up joining the Rangers back then. But he did leave Arsenal, joining Sheffield United instead.
He went on to have another excellent season. And that was enough for Celtic to come calling for his services, as they ended up signing the American international for a transfer fee in the region of £6 million. He has established himself as a starter for the Hoops since then.