Mikael Lustig’s future at Celtic looked pretty much non-existent a few weeks ago.
Jeremy Toljan had been brought in from Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season. Added to that, Lustig’s contract runs out at the end of the campaign, and Brendan Rodgers had been starting Toljan at every opportunity.
It was all adding up to a summer farewell for the Swede, who has so far given over seven years of service to Parkhead.
Supporters wouldn’t have complained either. They’ve been criticising Lustig’s displays on social media for long spells. The Toljan deal was done to much fanfare when it was released on social media. This was down to the fact that Lustig had struggled all season.
Yet, fast forward a few weeks and the Swedish international now has a chance to save his Celtic career. And it’s all down to one man – Neil Lennon.
Lennon was of course the manager that brought Lustig to Parkhead. He knows him inside-out, and has already touched on plans to talk to him about his future.
Is Lennon choosing Lustig over Toljan?
The Celtic manager took a look at Toljan at Tynecastle. Lennon already revealed that John Kennedy would be picking the team for Hearts. Therefore, playing Toljan wasn’t a Lennon decision.
He couldn’t have been impressed either. Some loose passes and weak defending from the German saw him substituted for Lustig late on in the 2-1 win.
Lustig then slightly surprisingly started in the 2-0 success at Easter Road on Saturday. He put in a competent display with no real errors of note. Whilst Lennon did bring Toljan on in the closing stages similarly to what he did in the previous game, it’s clear there’s a battle on here.
Celtic’s Swede who looked dead and buried in a Celtic jersey has another chance to redeem himself. His poor defensive performances at the likes of Ibrox, Easter Road, and consistently in Europe haven’t been forgotten about.
But under Rodgers it felt as though his chances of a Celtic future were down the drain. Toljan was supposed to be Lustig’s replacement, and so far he hasn’t looked good enough to warrant that title.
Lennon, meanwhile, remains a huge fan of Lustig. The right-back has now made over 250 appearances for the Hoops, and it may well increase closer to 300 before the end of the season.
At the very least, there’s a battle on here. It’s given Lustig one big opportunity, and if he starts on Saturday at home to Aberdeen, it’s clear who Lennon prefers early on.
Let’s see if he can now make the most of this reprieve.
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