Football roundup: Craig Brown not expecting Celtic complacency

ABERDEEN manager Craig Brown expects to welcome a Celtic side determined to continue their remarkable winning run in Saturday’s clash at Pittodrie.

Neil Lennon’s Celtic side have won 17 league games in succession and 20 in all domestic competitions. The seventh-placed Dons are themselves unbeaten in 11 games since December 24, a run which has moved them clear of the SPL relegation zone and into the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Brown said: “We have to acknowledge how excellent they have been. Their team has been fairly consistent and they haven’t had too many major injuries, unlike ourselves. They will not take the foot of the pedal, that is certain, I don’t think Neil Lennon would allow that.”

Fowler in training with Blackpool

Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler is training with Blackpool with a view to joining the npower Championship club.

The 36-year-old has played in Australia and Thailand since leaving English football in 2008, following a brief spell with Blackburn. Fowler was poised to join the new Premier League Soccer venture in India before the project ran into financial problems and on Thursday Blackpool confirmed he could be heading to Bloomfield Road. In a series of tweets on their official Twitter page, the club said: “Robbie Fowler has trained with the club today with a view to signing a permanent deal.”

Middlesbrough sign Hamill

Middlesbrough have secured the loan signing of Wolves midfielder Adam Hammill until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old, who has been capped once for England at U21 level and had a loan spell at Dunfermline in 2006/07, joined Wolves from Barnsley in January 2011 but has managed just three league starts. Boro manager Tony Mowbray said: “Adam is capable of bringing a different ingredient.”

Homophobic Tweet duo fined by FA

Newcastle forward Nile Ranger and Walsall’s Manny Smith have been fined £6,000 and £1,200 respectively and warned as to their future conduct after admitting making homophobic comments on Twitter. The pair were charged by the FA on Monday along with Manchester United striker Federico Macheda. All three were accused of acting in a way which was “improper and/or brought the game into disrepute”.