Celtic defender Mikael Lustig has told the Swedish media Leeds United’s Pontus Jansson deserved to be nominated as one of the best Swedish defenders this year.
The Celtic star has again been shortlisted after flourishing under Brendan Rodgers and Janne Andersson, but there was no room for Jansson or Manchester United summer signing Victor Lindelöf.
Ludwig Augustinsson and Andreas Granqvist also made the list.
Speaking to Expressen, the Celtic player said Leeds United’s Jansson was unlucky to miss out: “But also ‘Ponne’ (Pontus Jansson) he’s been extremely talented at Leeds United. He could have been in it with me.”
Jansson has become a regular in the Sweden squad since Andersson was installed as national coach last September, and the Leeds United star has played his part in getting to the playoff.
In the absence of Lindelof or Andreas Granqvist, the Leeds United cult hero has normally been brought into the starting eleven by Andersson, including for the World Cup qualifier against Belarus earlier this year.
Lustig has been Andersson’s first choice right back for Sweden, and it’s no surprise the Celtic favourite has again been nominated for this year’s best defender award.
