OPINION
The international break often throws up a debate between fans over club versus country – and it appears as though Celtic defender Mikael Lustig has nailed his colours to Sweden’s mast after his revelation while on national duty.
The Swedish giant, who stands at 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt), has been a key part of the Hoops’ squad this season, appearing in every one of their league games as well as most of the European outings, and his form and experience earned him a call up to the Swedish side for their most recent matches.
Missing out on the friendly against Austria, he picked up his 70th cap in the UEFA Nation’s League defeat to Turkey, a game in which he lasted 78 minutes before being forced off with injury.
Now setbacks are part and parcel of football but Lustig’s revelation that he took an unnecessary gamble on his fitness will have Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers raging – for it was a decision which could well end in tears.
Speaking to Sport Bladet, he said: “It (the injury) was quite expected really. I already knew it in half-time. It started to cramp and I knew already in half that it would only take a few minutes.
“Had it been a training match I would not have played. But I trained two days before and it felt so good.”
Hearing that Lustig knew of his potential injury – and even expected to suffer in the second half – is not the attitude that the Hoops want him to have, especially when it puts his fitness for the club on the line.
When the 31-year-old is such an important part of the Bhoys’ side, Rodgers would be hoping that he would think about the club when managing himself, but that does not seem to have been the case.
There has been no update on whether Lustig has recovered or whether there is serious damage after the initial setback and as such this could well be something which rules him out in the short-term, or even possibly longer.
It was a silly decision from the Swede and his manager will no doubt have a few stern words for him on his return to Glasgow.