Brown desperate to play a full part in Celtic’s hectic week

The Celtic skipper missed Saturday’s 4-0 win over Motherwell so is a doubt ahead of the match at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.

But Brown is convinced that the game will go ahead, with or without him.

“No, not in the slightest,” he answered yesterday, when asked whether he was worried about the outcome of Sion’s appeal at being kicked out of the Europa League by Uefa, on account of their fielding five ineligible players against Celtic in their qualifying play-off last month. It will be heard today, less than 24 hours before Celtic are due to leave for Madrid.

“They broke the rules and it is their own fault,” added Brown. “If it was maybe one player, but you can not come out and say we are going to play all these players and we do not care [about the consequences]. Uefa has dealt with it brilliantly.”

The reprieve has meant Celtic have been handed a tough few days. Only recently they were eyeing the prospect of a free week prior to Sunday’s first Old Firm fixture of the season. Now they will face one of the toughest tasks in European football on Thursday as they take on a team whose resources have been strengthened by the capture of the £35 million striker Radamel Falcao from Porto.

While it is a headache, it is one manager Neil Lennon wanted to have. He is tempted to make one concession ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm clash. The manager is considering leaving Brown out of the side in the hope that he will be raring to go at the weekend. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t a strategy which Brown is entirely delighted about.

However, he understands the need for caution. Although he insists the new injury is in no way related to his previous, more serious ankle problem, the midfielder is conscious of the heavy schedule ahead. Lennon is desperate for his captain to lead out his side at Ibrox on Sunday and may be prepared to keep him sidelined on Thursday. Brown suggested they might leave it until “20 minutes before kick-off” before making a decision. “We will take it how comes, see how training goes in the next couple of days and see how my ankle reacts,” said Brown. “But it’s feeling good so far.

“I’m trying to play in both [games]. I would love to play in both, but if Thursday is too soon then I’m willing to go along and cheer the boys and then hopefully be ready for Sunday.

“I enjoy playing. I give everything in training and in games. I just enjoy playing football. It is what I get paid to do but it is what I love to do. It is a hobby I get paid for and it is the best thing in the world.”

The performance of James Forrest against Motherwell on Saturday means Lennon may not need to fret too much about leaving Brown out. Forrest, who scored twice, was hailed by Brown yesterday. He could be a more than capable stand-in for the skipper on the right of midfield.

“He is a great player, probably the most exciting player to come through in Scotland since Aiden McGeady,” said Brown.

“He gives you pace and goals as well. He is adding a lot to his game as he gets older and, for a lad of his age, he has a great career ahead of him.

“He’s very laid back and down to earth,” Brown added. “He’s a nice guy, who is quite quiet off the park. There is nothing in his lifestyle that is going to cause a problem or go to his head, that’s for sure.

“I’m sure there were a few players in the past who came through and went the other way, but Jamesy is different. He enjoys coming into training, enjoys learning and enjoys playing football. That’s his focus.”

There is certainly a lot of football to be played by Celtic over the coming weeks. As well as Atletico Madrid, their Europa League group also includes Rennes and Udinese. It is, Brown observed, a “Champions League group”. The fear is that it might impact on Celtic’s bid to wrestle the championship from Rangers. Brown quickly rejected this notion.

“Rangers played Saturday-Thursday for the last two or three seasons until at least Christmas time and they managed to win the league,” he said. “It has not really dented them so, hopefully, it is our turn this year.

“It is just great to get back into Europe and come back to Celtic Park and hear the fans again,” Brown added.