Auston Trusty and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain both need to start for Celtic | OneFootball

Auston Trusty and the OX have got to return to Celtic’s starting XI today…

Auston Trusty of Celtic vies with Jacob Murrell of Falkirk during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

After producing diabolical displays in our last two fixtures, it’s vital that Celtic get our collective act together for today’s home clash with the Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. A win extends our lead over the lates Ibrox club to EIGHT points going into the international break.

Cameron Carter Vickers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Dundee Utd v Celtic, Premier Sports Cup, Saturday 15 August. Tannadice. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

To get just that, we need to select the correct personnel, and two players who were absent from last week’s starting XI, at Ibrox  in my opinion should be certs to start at Paradise later today. Those two players are Auston Trusty and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

For whatever reason, Trusty has been overlooked in favour of Liam Scales for the last two fixtures, despite the big American being at his best when the side are required to defend for large periods of the game.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership St Johnstone versus Celtic; Auston Trusty of Celtic on the ball. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

He also provides us with a physical presence, which is ideal for both defence and attack, particularly when it comes to set plays.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who was unavailable for the Ferencvaros clash due to serving a suspension, is a player who would provide us with much needed experience and ability in the middle of the park, an area of our side that’s been exposed badly in recent games.

Callum McGregor of Celtic at full time during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The OX is not a typical ‘number six’ by any stretch, but he’s played at the top level long enough to know how to control a game, and he’d take the burden off the recently much maligned Callum McGregor.

Calmac and The OX could utilise their experience and ability to control proceedings in the middle of the park, and leave the attacking side of the game to Benjamin Nygren or Mika Baur, depending on who is selected as the third option by Martin O’Neill.

Mika Baur of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Camilo Duran during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Trusty who didn’t feature at all at Ibrox or against Ferencvaros on Thursday will give us a fresh pair of legs, as will Oxlade-Chamberlain who missed out on Thursday due to suspension, and was a second half substitute at Ibrox last Sunday.

We need our best players fit and ready to start, and Auston Trusty, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain certainly fall under that category. I expect both to start today.

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