Auston Trusty is hoping his partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers can deliver the Premiership – and fire the pair to the World Cup in their homeland.

The defensive duo are part of the USA set up but have never played together for their national side. Trusty and Carter-Vickers have build up a solid relationship with Celtic and the stopper admitted the dream would be to lift silverware together in Scotland and then book their place for the big one next summer in America, Canada and Mexico. The 26-year-old said: “That would be amazing. I think that's absolutely on my mind and I'm sure for Cameron too, it's on his mind as well.

“We have to do our job here and doing our job here allows us to propel ourselves into consideration for that team, and get the opportunities that we need. Take care of business here, then that'd be amazing. Nothing's impossible. Everything's realistic.

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“It's important you have those targets to try and strive for. Even before I came here, that's the goal. I think you want chemistry, especially in the back line. You want chemistry, guys who actually know what they're doing and playing at a high level. It doesn't hurt us whatsoever.

“I've played with a lot of good defenders throughout my career, but Cameron's really good and we have good chemistry. I think every single game we get to play together and the more time we have together, the centre-backs and all the defenders and the whole entire team, the more you play, the more chemistry you get.

“I can see it growing and growing every single game and knowing what he's going to do and what I'm going to do and how we're both going to react and help each other out. Game by game, it's getting better and better.”

Carter-Vickers has been linked with interest in Germany from Bayer Leverkusen but Celtic are determined to keep hold of their defensive rock. Trusty said: “I haven't seen anything. Everyone on this team is a good player and I'm sure lots attract different teams and different leads and stuff like that, but I can't speak for him.”

Celtic maintained the charge at the top of the Premiership with Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Dundee United on the back of the three goal victory over St Mirren on Sunday.

Trusty insisted the Hoops have shown the perfect response after the shock thumping by Rangers in the New Year derby at Ibrox. He said: “There's lows and highs to football, and that was a low for us.

“You have good games and you have bad games, we just didn't show up for that game. It's a testament to the team and how we react to things.

“We've had lows before already this season, and it shows the true character of a team to bounce back from losses. Hopefully it showed everyone that we're a good team.”

“I don't think any of us are counting the points, we're just focusing on game by game and doing our job.” We're striving every day to get better, have more cohesion as a team and get better in every aspect of the game. Hopefully we can get an opportunity to show more of us and how we're advancing as a team.”

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