Lustig has to stay put, insists Erik

ERIK SVIATCHENKO last night urged Celtic team-mate Mikael Lustig to pledge his future to the club in order to prolong the best period of form in his career.

The Swedish full-back is out of contract at the end of the season and is in talks with Celtic over an extension.

Signed on a free transfer from Rosenborg five years ago, Lustig has been a mainstay for the Parkhead club and manager Brendan Rodgers is eager to tie down the 30-year-old on a new deal.

Aware that this will be the last major contract of his career, Lustig has been careful not to rush into a new agreement but his fellow defender Sviatchenko believes both club and player would benefit from a resolution.

‘I think it’s important that Mika stays for the club’s sake and his own,’ said the Danish defender. ‘He plays an important role both on and off the pitch because he has been at Celtic for several

years and knows everything. I really hope that he signs a new contract as this is as good as I have seen him. I knew him at Rosenborg before he came to Celtic and he is playing at his highest level now. I have a gut feeling that he will stay.’

Lustig’s early years at Parkhead were dogged by niggling injuries but he has been almost ever present under Rodgers, who has described him as a ‘pillar’ of his squad.

The Northern Irishman insists he is confident the defender will remain in Glasgow but refuses to rush him into a decision.

‘The club and his agent have been in discussions and I would be hopeful that something could be organised on that fairly soon,’ said Rodgers. ‘He definitely wants to stay. But of course it is two-way. You need to find an agreement.

‘It is a big contract for him — one of the last big ones of his career, so I respect that it has to be right for him and his family. There is no rush for him. He knows I want to keep him and, hopefully, we can do that.’

Meanwhile, Sviatchenko admits he does not want Celtic’s ‘magical’ unbeaten run to end.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have won all but one of their 24 domestic matches this term, stumbling only at Inverness where they drew 2-2 with Caley Thistle.

Talk persists not only of Rodgers becoming the third Celtic manager to land a Treble but also of him presiding over an unblemished Premiership campaign.

Danish international Sviatchenko refuses to make any predictions but concedes the team is enjoying its ongoing ‘Invincible’ status.

He said: ‘Being unbeaten is a bonus but I hope we can go as long as we can because it’s special, something magical.

‘I’m not saying we can go the full season because another team can turn up and play really well or something can happen in a game.

‘It’s about one game at a time. I know that is diplomatic but it’s about being in the moment and having the confidence to go into each game.’

The Dane also believes Scottish football has been enhanced by the return of the Old Firm fixture to the league calendar. Sviatchenko, who has started in each of Celtic’s three victories over Rangers this season, believes the Glasgow derby offers a unique selling point for players.

Celtic signed off for the winter break with a 2-1 victory at Ibrox and Sviatchenko believes it was the perfect way to round off the year.

‘I think that game was good for Scottish football,’ he said. ‘It was high-tempo, a commercial for Scottish football.’