Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor are working to recover from toe and calf injuries, respectively, in time for Sunday’s William Hill Premiership match against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Carter-Vickers has been absent for six games, but Trusty put in his best performance for Celtic, helping the Hoops secure a goalless Champions League draw against Europa League champions Atalanta on Wednesday.
Rodgers said: “We’ve got Cam back training with the squad, which is good news. Greg Taylor, as well. So, one more day to go, and then we’ll see how they are, but hopefully, they’ll be involved in the game.
“We’d like them to be available; I think that’s what’s important. So, it gives us options, which is what you want as a coach. But obviously the team, defensively, was outstanding the other night.
“But to have those two guys back, who are very important players for us, will be good.”
Carter-Vickers trained ahead of the last two matches but was not included in the squad.
Rodgers said: “Certainly when we were away, it was the best he’d felt. So he’s obviously done some training back here.
“We’re just being careful and listening to him really to not want to force it if it’s not right. But he looked very good earlier and he’s been that throughout this week. So, fingers crossed he comes through OK, and then he can be involved in the squad.”
The left-footed Trusty has been playing on the right side of central defense alongside Liam Scales, and the former Sheffield United player proved his value to the Celtic fans in Italy.
“I thought he was immense in the game,” the Celtic manager said. “Him and Scalesy. But Scalesy, I’ve seen now for a long time, one of his great superpowers is defending the box. When it comes in, he puts his head on it.
“For Auston, a big admiration, especially since he’s come in he’s a player that’s been playing on the wrong side virtually all his time. But he’s just got on with it and coped with it.
“But then you see one of the big reasons why we did bring him in. His ability to leap and defend in the box. He’s really powerful with his head. But also his speed; there were a couple of recovery runs behind. He’s super quick. He got there on a couple of occasions.
“But then you see one of the big reasons why we did bring him in. His ability to leap and defend in the box. He’s really powerful with his head. But also his speed, there were a couple of recovery runs in behind. He’s super quick. He got there on a couple of occasions.
Kuhn ‘Happy’ with Start as Celtic Aims to Beat Motherwell
Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn expresses being ‘happy’ with his season start as he remains a key player in the starting 11.
The Germany youth international has scored six goals for Celtic in all competitions and is “feeling good” as they gear up to face Motherwell, marking their return to domestic action after a goalless draw with Atalanta in the Champions League. Brendan Rodgers’ team maintained their hopes of European progression by holding off a strong Atalanta side in Bergamo, and the winger is now eager for his team to “perform better than against Aberdeen” in their upcoming league match.
After failing to hold a two-goal advantage at home, the Dons, the Hoops will hope their European draw serves as the ideal spark to regain form in the Scottish Premiership and preserve their position at the top of the table.
“It’s going to be a different game, but I think it was a good point, and now we focus on Motherwell,” Kuhn said, reflecting on the Atalanta game and turning attention to their domestic responsibilities.
“I think, like a lot of the games in the league, we have to create a lot of chances. We’re going to have the ball and we have to use our chances and do a little bit better than against Aberdeen.
“I think the point there [Atalanta] was really good. I think we showed that we learnt from the game before, we did much better, we were compact as a team and from this, we keep going.
“I think already in the league after the Dortmund game we showed our qualities and that we can handle it and as I said there was a much better performance defensive-wise from us last game.
“I think we are normally used to having the ball a lot, and I think that’s what we normally do.
“So I think for us it was more difficult to be just compact and defend much more than we used to, but we did a great job and… Now, hopefully, we can take a little bit more again.”
On his own start to the season, he adds: I’m happy with the start, happy that I’m just feeling good and fit. That was the most important thing for pre-season, as I said. I’m just feeling good.
“It’s going to be a long season. It just started.”
Back Your Star Player! Get the freshest updates and stories about your favorite football player.
Support Your Favorite Player
