Birmingham City boss John Eustace has been able to witness Auston Trusty’s smooth transition first-hand this season, and although Trusty is set to rejoin his parent club Arsenal in May, Eustace isn’t set to let him go one bit.
Trusty has been one of the Blues best players this season in the English Football League Championship, jumping right into the first team and playing a leading role in their backline. The former MLS homegrown defender has featured in all 32 matches for Birmingham City across all competitions, scoring four goals and adding one assist in league play.
Trusty is still fairly new to the English game, but Eustace has been impressed with his immediate transition to a grueling Championship schedule.
“I think he is a terrific player,” Eustace said in his pre-match press conference, transcribed by Birmingham Live. “I think with Auston we have to remember he has come off the back of a full MLS season, so he’s touching nearly 50-60 games in a row now.
“It’s about getting that consistency,” Eustace added. “Would I have liked to have rested Auston throughout the season? 100%, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that. So his performances have also dipped throughout the season because of a lack of help, support I would like to have given him. But he is coming back now, he is coming back strong, his last couple of performances have been excellent.”
The 24-year-old logged over 120 appearances during his four-and-a-half seasons in MLS, first coming through the Philadelphia Union academy before starting in Jim Curtin’s backline in back-to-back years. Trusty moved to the Colorado Rapids ahead of the 2020 season and continued to develop as an all-around defender before earning his transfer to Arsenal last summer.
Trusty’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium remains unknown for the time being, and should Arsenal consider selling him this summer, Eustace hopes Birmingham City can get a deal done.
“I would love him at the football club going forward,” Eustace said. “I think everyone connected to Birmingham City would love him to be part of the football club but we also respect he is an Arsenal player, a very good player but it’s something we can hopefully push at the end of the season.”
18th-place Birmingham City hosts West Bromwich Albion on Friday in a battle between Trusty and fellow MLS product and USMNT hopeful Daryl Dike.