OPINION
There are few other players in the current Celtic side who have contributed as much as Mikael Lustig has during his time at Parkhead.
Seven league titles, three Scottish cups, four Scottish League Cups and 272 appearances is a magnificent career for the Norwegian ace, who has continued to be a mainstay for the Hoops this season at the age of 32.
For any player to feature over 40 times in a single season is an impressive feat, even more so when they are on the wrong side of 30, but after years of loyal service his time at Celtic Park is surely coming to an end.
His contract runs out this summer and while there might still be a chance the Hoops choose to extend his deal for another year or two, his performance against Kilmarnock on Saturday demonstrated why the Bhoys should be looking for his replacement.
He was very much the weak link in Neil Lennon’s defence, finding himself beaten time and again through both a lack of pace and poor positioning at the back in what was a real nightmare display.
The 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt) right back was lucky that the visitors to Parkhead did not make more of his questionable defending and on another day, he could well have been the reason the Hoops faithful were not left celebrating victory.
Killie are hard working but technically not the greatest in Scotland and if Lustig could not handle them, then he is going to struggle when he comes up against better players both domestically and in Europe.
Celtic should be looking to the future now and the veteran represents their successful recent past. The page is turning at Parkhead and that should surely see the end of the Norwegian – with a potential three successive trebles, it would not be a bad way to bow out.