Stoke City summer signing rewarded as he disregards pain
Viktor Johansson was rewarded with the captain's armband for epitomising everything Ryan Shawcross wants to see in a Stoke City player.
Johansson led the team out for a 1-0 win over Sunderland as regular skipper Ben Gibson took a place on the bench following illness.
The 26-year-old, who joined Stoke from Rotherham United in the summer and is currently frontrunner to be player of the season, had suffered a nasty arm injury in a Boxing Day defeat to Leeds but he was adamant that he could play on then and at the weekend.
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He made a series of key stops, including one low to keep out Wilson Isidor on the first half, and held out for a much-needed clean sheet while Tom Cannon secured the win with a well-taken goal in injury time. He was booked along the way by controversial referee James Bell, who took issue with being spoken to by Stoke's captain and had a broad smile on his face as he pulled out a yellow card.
Shawcross, standing in as caretaker manager, said: "(Johansson) epitomises everything about Stoke City. He has the desire. He has a massive gash in his arm but he wants to play, no question about it. Everything I look for in a Stoke City player he shows.
"That's why he's captain and he showed it with his performance."
Johansson has been in outstanding form for Stoke over the last few months and the stats men credit him with preventing 13 expected goals compared to how the average Championship keeper would fare against the same shots. He has assumed the number one jersey for Sweden too.
