‘Not Easy’ – Brutal Reality for Celtic Defender Fighting for Place

Former Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson has spoken about the demands of playing centre-back at Parkhead, reflecting on his own time in Glasgow over ten years ago.

Wilson, who arrived from Nottingham Forest in 2011, had a difficult first season before becoming an important player for Neil Lennon.

Right now, Celtic have plenty of options in central defence. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales are Brendan Rodgers’ first-choice pairing, while Auston Trusty, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Dane Murray and Stephen Welsh add extra cover. Welsh, though, looks likely to leave before the end of the month.

Trusty, a £5.5 million buy from Sheffield United last summer, has yet to start a league match this season. The USA international has been on the bench for both games but came on as a substitute in each one.

Wilson understands the challenge of breaking into the Celtic starting XI. He says the pressure and expectations at the club mean players need the right mindset, something that can take time to develop.

He said: (RecordSport), “I think every player is different.

“Some get a little bit complacent and think it’s going to be easy going up to Celtic, and it’s not. You can’t just win a game 1-0 because you’re going to get hammered by the press and fans.

“You’ve got to win convincingly and play well week in, week out.

“I think for the lad (Trusty), he’s had his first season, he knows what it’s about now. It’s just getting into your mindset of what you need to do to be a Celtic player. It’s a winning mentality. People don’t understand when you say that. You learn how to win. You’ve got to be a winner. You win at all costs.

“You don’t go out there expecting someone to win you the game.”

Wilson’s views show the big demands Celtic players face, especially in key roles like centre-back. With high fan expectations, constant media attention, and the team’s attacking style, defenders are judged on much more than keeping clean sheets.

For Trusty, the task is to break into Rodgers’ first-choice team. Carter-Vickers and Scales are in strong form, so chances may be few, but Wilson says it’s all about being mentally ready and consistent.

The former defender’s message stresses how important it is to adjust quickly to playing for Celtic. Good games now and then aren’t enough, players must perform at a high level every single week.

If Trusty takes that approach, Wilson believes he can become a big player for Celtic, just as he did himself after a tough first season.