Sheffield United heads into the 2024-25 English Football League Championship season fresh off of one of their more forgettable campaigns in club history, but American defender Auston Trusty has much confidence in the group to be among the promotion chasers this year.

Trusty was a regular figure for the Blades last season after making the permanent move to Bramall Lane from fellow English club Arsenal. The veteran defender made 34 combined appearances for the club, earning an early taste of life in the Premier League and the highs and lows that go with it.

Despite Trusty and the Blades’ best efforts, Sheffield United’s 16 points earned were tied for the third fewest all-time tally in a single top-flight campaign. Now with a 46-match EFL Championship schedule set to begin for the Blades on Friday at Preston North End, Trusty is focused and confident about the present, and not worried about the struggles of the past.

“I don’t think anyone on the team would say that as a team we were the best, I think we showed glimpses and we showed opportunities, but things didn’t fall our way,” Trusty said. Looking back at it from a team perspective, we didn’t do our jobs. Personally, it was a growing year for me. I proved myself and showed that I could play in multiple positions for the team and play against the best players in the world. I don’t look at last year as a down, I look at it as a growth. This is a new opportunity to try and get promoted again.”

“The Championship is no joke,” Trusty added. “I think a lot of people who aren’t familiar with the grind of it, they don’t understand how taxing it is mentally and physically. When I was at Birmingham, we were a mid-table team, but now I’m part of a team where they are striving to go up. I’m part of a team that is expected to get promoted. I know what it takes to survive 40+, 50+ games and the mindset that you need to prepare for the highs and lows. I know I can strive in the Championship and do my thing; I’ve shown it to the world, and I’ve shown it to myself.”

After making the move abroad from MLS, Trusty has been a consistent performer in his two seasons in England’s top two divisions. He’s made a combined 82 appearances between Birmingham City and Sheffield United, logging four goals, two assists, and over 7,000 minutes played.

Productive spells in both Birmingham and Sheffield have led to the former Philadelphia Union homegrown earning his senior U.S. men’s national team debut in 2023 before winning a CONCACAF Nations League title last summer. While there was plenty of interest in Trusty after his move to London in 2022, he admits the move to Sheffield United was the best for his long-term growth as a player and a person.

“I had a fair amount of options to choose from,” Trusty said about the decision to pick Sheffield United. “I went through all of the options and wanted to test myself and put myself in the best position, with a team that would allow me to test myself with the highest capabilities. Sheffield seemed to be the best option for me because they were headed to the Premier League and I wanted to go somewhere where I could start right away and prove that I could play in that league.

“I think career wise off the field, this has been the best situation for me,” Trusty added. “I have found some good friends and family who have become my family here. Being able to come to the Premier League was achieving my dream, and although last year was a tough year mentally, I really like Sheffield. It is very similar to Philadelphia, a very working-class area with people that are down to earth and outdoorsy.”

Trusty’s second season at Bramall Lane will come under the guidance of 56-year-old manager Chris Wilder. Wilder, a former Blades player and boyhood fan of the club, helped the Blades earn two promotions in three seasons during his first spell as manager, including a jump to the Premier League in 2019.

After spells at both Middlesbrough and Watford, Wilder made the return to the club last December, but was unable to help the Blades avoid relegation and a last-place EPL finish. Trusty praised the opportunity to continue working under Wilder, who faced a tough challenge when he was re-hired for the job.

“Chris came in during a tough spot when the team wasn’t in the best place,” Trusty said. “I think it’s hard for anybody to come into that situation, especially in the best league in the world. It will test anybody as a coach, and I think it is a credit to him and the staff for being willing to take on that chance.”

It’s not often that you see two former MLS homegrowns square off in a European league, but that feat will occur twice this season between Trusty and a former club teammate. Brenden Aaronson is back with Leeds United after his season-long loan spell in Germany and the attacking midfielder will have similar goals to Trusty’s in terms of helping his team earn promotion.

Trusty and Aaronson are two of the top talents to come out of the Union’s academy, developing into overseas professionals and international players. However, they will have to put their friendship on hold for the first time in competitive action, beginning with an October 18 showdown at Elland Road.

“I think it is awesome,” Trusty said about the opportunity of facing Aaronson in EFL Championship play. “I have known Brenden for a long time and it’s pretty cool to see where we began compared to where we are now. Coming over here to England has been everything we dreamed of, being in the Premier League and now fighting for promotion. It was our dream to come here and play overseas so I am looking forward to seeing him and playing against him for the first time.”

Sheffield United, similar to a lot of second-tier clubs, have done a lot of business this summer in preparation for the season. Wilder has brought in Harrison Burrows and Kieffer Moore in consecutive deals while also adding Callum O’Hare, Jamie Shackleton, and Sam McCallum on free transfers.

A total of nine new faces will be among the Blades squad when their season kicks off at Deepdale on Friday evening in the first of four matches this month.

Trusty knows the importance of starting strong in the league and already sees the early interior confidence that the squad has to achieve their long-term goals.

“I think we have brought in some really good players,” Trusty said. “I think they are still trying to bring in a few more as well, but overall, the guys have been super nice, good guys off the pitch, and good teammates on the pitch.

“I think everyone is very confident,” Trusty added. “I think they’ve kept the guys who have experience and also brought in guys who have experience too. I think everyone who is on the team is not fearful about the chapter and challenges ahead. Everyone is excited for the opportunity to try and get promoted again. We just have to do our thing, and the rest will take care of itself because we back ourselves and that is where you want to be.”