New Bhoy Lustig inspired by Larsson

The Sweden defender, 25, will officially become a Celtic player on Sunday after his transfer to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders was completed on Friday.

Lustig, who agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract in November after leaving Norwegian side Rosenborg, almost inevitably referenced legend Larsson, who starred at the Parkhead club between 1997 and 2004, saying: "Henrik Larsson put Celtic on the map in Sweden."

He added: "I watched many Celtic games when he played here and Celtic have many fans cheering for them in Sweden.

"I haven't spoken to him but he has spoken a lot about the club and Glasgow. I have known about this for two months.

"I always thought it was a great club for me and I have been waiting for this moment, so now I am here it is perfect."

Lustig, who first became aware of Celtic's interest 18 months ago, was in attendance at Parkhead on Wednesday night as Neil Lennon's men beat Rangers 1-0 to go two points clear of their Ibrox rivals at the top of the SPL table.

The former Rosenborg defender insisted that the game whetted his appetite for life at one of the Glasgow giants, adding: "It was my first live Old Firm game and the atmosphere was really good.

"I heard the game was something special and it was, it was really nice. I was sitting in the crowd with a smile.

"I come from Rosenborg and I know what it is like. Every game is a pressure and every year you want to win the league so it is the same. I am quite a calm guy and I think I am going to handle it very well."

Source: PA

Source: PA