Celtic v Salzburg: ‘Austrians toughest side so far’

Celtic's Scott Brown during a training session at Lennoxtown Training Centre, near Glasgow. Picture: PA

A win over the already-qualified Austrian side in their Europa League Group D clash at Parkhead on Thursday night will see Ronny Deila’s side also book their place in the last 32 of the competition with one game remaining, as will a draw or defeat if Dinamo Zagreb fail to win at Astra.

However, Brown was impressed by Salzburg in the section opener in September when the home side battled back after going behind twice to the Hoops - with the Scotland captain scoring the second - to grab a merited 2-2 draw.

Salzburg won their next three fixtures to take them on to 10 points, two clear of Celtic although Brown, who returns after missing the 2-1 home Premiership win over Dundee on Saturday though suspension, does not think that will affect the visitors’ attitude.

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“I don’t think it’s going to matter to them that they have qualified because they are a great team,” he said, before being asked if asked if he felt Adolf Hutter’s side are the toughest Celtic have faced this season.

“Yeah, definitely, I think they are the fittest as well,” he said.

“You see their right-back pressing Emilio Izaguirre high up the park to put him under pressure, it shows their will to win.

“It was a hard game when we played them over there but we managed to get a point and I think it shows you how well we’re doing in this competition.

“To finish top of the group would be huge but the main thing is to qualify and if we qualify then we’ve done really well because it is a hard group.

“If it goes down to the last game (away to Dinamo) so be it but hopefully we can do it at home. It would be great to do it in front of our own fans as well.”

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