Every Celtic player stepped up to the task in the Champions League play-off first leg, and Auston Trusty has singled out one teammate in particular.

A three-goal lead sees Celtic in the driving seat as they face LASK in Tuesday night’s decider. No one is taking that lead for granted, with Trusty reiterating that it’s only half-time in the tie.

The Austrian champions had their chances to score in Glasgow, with two goals chalked off for offside and other chances wasted. While the Hoops may be at risk of conceding in the second leg, they’re also capable of finding the net themselves.

Camilo Duran rightfully grabbed the headlines after his brilliant brace. Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring and also registered an assist – the Swede’s all-round performance shows a player determined to pick up where he left off.

Mika Baur looked solid on his first start and struck a promising partnership with Callum McGregor in the middle of the pitch.

Trusty, though, has shone a light on Colby Donovan. The 19-year-old slotted in at right-back in place on the injured Alistair Johnston and put in what was surely his best performance in green and white. 

Donovan’s breakout season came last year, also in place of Johnston, and he has wasted no time in continuing to show promising development.

His willingness to put in the hard yards defensively and then bomb forward to aid in attack was appreciated by supporters. He played a key role in Duran’s second goal as the Hoops raced into a 3-0 lead; Donovan started the passage of play and appeared higher up the pitch soon after, creating space for Nygren to set the Colombian up for a tidy finish.

Martin O’Neill was full of admiration for the right-back after the match, and now Donovan’s defensive partner has further highlighted his contribution. Trusty said (Record Sport):

“He’s very aggressive.

“Last year in the Europa League, he and I had a good partnership on the right side, when I was playing on the right side. I think he’s really good.

“He’s really young but you think he’s a lot older than he is. He’s very young and has a lot of potential.

“He performs well on the big stage too, so that’s what you want to see.”

While news of Alistair Johnston’s injury was a significant blow, Donovan stepped up and delivered in his absence. He will look for a similar performance in Austria as the Celts look to qualify for the Champions League once more, having missed out last season.

“That’s the squad you want”, Trusty continued.

“You want people to be able to step in and do a job.

“Only 11 people can start, and then only five subs, but anybody that comes into the game, we have a squad where people can actually affect the game.

“It’s not really a big drop-off, so it’s been a good place.”

Celtic seek to bolster their left-back options with Landon Emenalo, who is due to join on a season-long loan from Chelsea with no option to buy.

With Johnston set to be sidelined for a prolonged period, the Hoops may yet delve into the market for right-back cover. Reports have linked the Hoops with Yukinari Sugawara, who is expected to leave Southampton this window. There have been no reports of an official bid for the defender as of yet.

Canadian international Niko Sigur remains firmly on the club’s radar, with the central midfielder also capable of performing at right-back.

Donovan remains Celtic’s go-to option, and Trusty’s comments show the team have full faith in his abilities. The prospect will be given the nod once more on Tuesday in a tie that bears significant reward.