The Hunger Games

Mikael Lustig targets more silverware with the Celts.

- Martin Dalziel

MIKAEL Lustig didn’t have to think twice about pledging his future to Celtic when asked to sign an extension to his contract to keep him at Paradise until at least May 2019.

The Swedish defender is in his fifth year as a Celt and has a magnificent seven trophies to his name, won over the course of 166 appearances under three different managers.

In that time the Hoops star has not had his troubles to seek, having overcome a string of injuries to establish himself as one of the club’s most trusted defenders and most experienced heads in the dressing room.

Now, with Brendan Rodgers guiding the Bhoys to an incredible 19-point lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership and with the League Cup already secured, the 30-year-old stopper had no hesitation in committing his future to the club he loves.

In our exclusive interview with the Celtic star he discusses his favourite memories so far from his time at Paradise and revealed that he still has the hunger for more success in the coming years.

Congratulations on your new deal. How does it feel?

I’ve been here for a long time and I really enjoy my life here and playing for Celtic. I’m really happy. I’m still hungry for more and I love to be here. We’ve started really well in the first six months under the new manager and staff so that’s why it was an easy thing for me to do. Celtic is growing, getting better every season now and I want to be a part of it. We have a chance to take the treble now and we’ve obviously not done that yet but everyone wants to just continue to develop as a team, continue to play against good sides and learn.

Was there ever a feeling of uncertainty for you, given that you were into the last year of your deal?