Leading By Example

Mikael Lustig took temporary ownership of the captains armband against St Johnstone, and helped the team to an emphatic victory in Perth.

- Tony Connelly

LIKE many of his Celtic team-mates, Mikael Lustig has headed off on international duty, with Sweden having a Nations League match against Russia in Moscow this Thursday followed by a friendly match at home against Slovakia the following Tuesday.

The 31-year-old defender is, always, looking forward to representing his country, having already done so on 70 previous occasions, and he links up with his national squad on the back of playing his part in an impressive 6-0 victory for Celtic over St Johnstone at the weekend.

Brendan Rodgers’ side produced a blistering performance in Perth, scoring five times in the first-half, with James Forrest particularly impressive, scoring four of those goals.

Lustig was in the heart of the Celtic defence, as well as wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Scott Brown, and Brown would have been impressed by his team-mates’ performance from his vantage point in the main stand at McDiarmid Park.

Speaking to the Celtic View after the game, Lustig was fulsome in his praise for the showing, admitting that it was probably the team’s best showing so far this season.