Firm Trusty reality check, Lagerbielke lifeline falters and £15m windfall 'complicated' – Celtic news bulletin

Brendan Rodgers' side survived a Premier Sports Cup scare but there is still plenty of work to do

Defender Auston Trusty has been warned he WON'T be back in the Celtic starting line-up next weekend after his display against Falkirk.

The centre-back was handed his first start for the Scottish Premiership champions in the 5-2 Premier Sports Cup thriller against Falkirk - just days after making his debut off the bench for the Hoops in their Champions League rout of Slovan Bratislava. The games are the first glimpses that Celtic fans have had of the USA international since his £5.5m move from Sheffield United last summer - but Simon Donnelly reckons that Brendan Rodgers won't have been won over just yet.

Speaking to BBC's Scottish Football podcast, the former Parkhead star insists Liam Scales will be in the starting eleven for Saturday's clash with St Johnstone. Asked about Trusty and debuting left-back Alex Valle, Donnelly said: "These guys have not had a lot of game time. Trusty came off the bench the other night in the Champions League - that was his first look - and Liam Scales has played really well in that position.

"It would have just emphasised where Celtic are at the moment - which is a good place. The guys that have the jersey at the moment will keep the jersey. He made changes and took the opportunity to rest a couple. I don't think anybody that started (against Falkirk) will push to start the next game, I think it will be normal service."

With Trusty coming in last summer, Gustaf Lagerbielke was given the green light to leave Celtic Park on loan. However, his loan spell at FC Twente hasn't gone to plan so far.

The Swede has yet to make his debut for his new club having been left on the bench for all three games since his arrival by boss Joseph Oosting. But sporting director Arnold Bruggink has leapt to the defence of the centre-back - insisting the time will come for the Celtic loanee.

He told VoetbalTijd: "There are players who feel the pressure, are not yet functioning in the team. What you should not underestimate is that two players, who were both captains of the team, Robin Propper and Michal Sadilek, have left.

"There are two new boys in their place. They can handle that easily in a sporting way, no discussion about it as far as I'm concerned. Whether that is Max Bruns or eventually Gustaf Lagerbielke they can all fill that role. No doubt"

While Celtic will have to wait and see if Lagerbielke can make his mark at Twente - and eventually allow them to recoup some of the cash they paid out for him - one man that looks set to bring in big money is Jeremie Frimpong.

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But a reported move to Chelsea from Bayern Leverkusen has been "complicated" by interest from Liverpool, according to a report. 30 per cent of any sale by the German champions will be handed over to Celtic.

The Blues have been reportedly considering a £50m January bid which would see the Hoops bank £15m if a deal gets over the line. However, Kicker report that Arne Slot's side are weighing up a move - and would be Frimpong's "preferred" destination - but will only offer around £41m for the Netherlands international.

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