‘He’s going to’ - Birmingham City give definitive Arsenal answer about defender’s future

John Eustace has all but confirmed that centre back Auston Trusty, who has spent this season on loan with Birmingham City, will return to parent club Arsenal in the summer. Blues’ head coach has heaped the plaudits on the American defender but accepts he’s now of a Premier League standard.

With 42 appearances in the Championship this campaign, Trusty has missed just two league matches for Blues and was also everpresent in the cup competitions. Filling in at left-back and left centre-back in any of a back three, four or five, the 24-year-old has shown brilliant versatility at St Andrew’s.

The USMNT international has been so reliable that ‘Trusty the process’ has become a phrase used by plenty of Bluenoses this term – and fans aren’t the only ones impressed. “The way he has adapted has been exceptional as Auston didn’t know the Championship,” Eustace told the media last week.

“He came in off the back of 30 games in the MLS, so he was match ready. He’s been a pleasure to work with, his training standards have been very high, he never misses a day, and I think he’s taken to the level quite easily. You can see he’s going to go back to Arsenal as a Premier League player.”

Returning to the Emirates he certainly will with his loan deal coming to a close, but Eustace admitting Trusty is now capable of playing in the division suggests a permanent Birmingham move is unlikely, too. The case of Dion Sanderson could be different, though, as a very contrasting hint has been made.

Another loan defender having signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a temporary basis, Sanderson has played 30 times in the Championship this season. Only a long-term back injury has stopped the powerhouse 23-year-old from reaching a similar total of appearances to Trusty.

“He’s travelled to away games and home games when he’s not been involved and it shows this football club means a lot to Dion,” Eustace said. “The fans really like Dion and the players in the squad love him to bits. Dion has certainly proved that he’s very committed to this football club.”