Mauricio Pochettino has done Celtic a massive favour | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino has excluded Celtic defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty from the USA national team’s training camp squad scheduled for next month…

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty during the UEFA Champions League Training at Lennoxtown Training on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

And that’s no bad thing as it will allow both players around a month off before the pre-season training gets underway at Lennoxtown.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, PSG, and Chelsea manager has announced a 27-player squad for a training camp ahead of games against Turkey and Switzerland, with players expected to assemble in Chicago starting 1 June  to gear up for their two encounters against European opponents.

Auston Trusty of Celtic is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 training and press conference at Villa Park on January 28, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

However, Brendan Rodgers’ American centre-backs have been left out, as Pochettino has chosen to include Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Mark McKenzie – formerly linked with Celtic and now at Toulouse in Ligue 1 – instead.

Ahead of the international double header, Pochettino emphasised how crucial the upcoming fixtures are for the US national team: “As we continue preparations for the World Cup, this is a fantastic opportunity to work with this group of players for an extended period and it’s important we take advantage of every moment we have together,” he said.

Cameron Carter-Vickers during the UEFA Champions League training at Lennoxtown Training on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Of course, we want to win and to perform in a very good way. These players have earned the chance to compete for our fans and to show their quality and mentality.”

Carter-Vickers earned his first international cap in 2017, coming on as a half time substitute in a 1-1 away draw with Portugal, and has since accumulated 19 caps, representing the USA through his eligibility via his father’s heritage.

Trusty, who joined Celtic from Sheffield United last summer, made his international debut in 2023 during a CONCACAF Nations League game against Grenada, completing the entire match. In total, Trusty has represented his country on four occasions.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

With speculation arising over CCV’s future this summer, it may be a concern that he cannot edge himself into Pochettino’s plans despite his impressive season for the Scottish champions.

Meanwhile for Trusty, absent from Pochettino’s 27-man squad should be no surprise given that Brendan Rodgers is now going with Liam Scales as the left-sided centre-back, and he should start at Hampden later today with Trusty on the bench.

Conor Spence

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