Scott Brown played through pain to help Celtic lift title

Celtic will officially clinch the title if they get a point at home to Aberdeen on Saturday, although their nine-point and 35-goal advantage over the Dons ensured the celebrations already took place following their win against Hearts on Saturday.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, right, and captain Scott Brown announce the biggest ever shirt sponsorship deal in Scottish football history as Dafabet are named as a newm main club sponsor. Picture: Craig Foy/SNS

So Scott Brown will drop out of the team, and Scotland’s friendlies against Italy and France, to rest his tight hamstrings, which he revealed had been restricting his movement in recent weeks.

Brown told the club’s official website: “I love every minute of going out and winning titles and it means so much to everyone here to win leagues and play for Celtic in front of the fans. There have been times where the team has not performed as well as we’d like, and there have been times where I personally have not performed as well as I’d like but that’s part and parcel of football.

“There have been a lot of injuries and people playing through the pain barrier for the club and I think some fans maybe don’t understand that. People only see who turns up on the park and they don’t see the day to day.

“The last six or seven games now it has been hard for me but you deal with it – that’s football. People get injuries but you come through them and hopefully you can just keep playing as long as you possibly can. I think most of the lads would do that. Any of the lads would play through the pain barrier if it means them getting 90 minutes on the park, winning the title or being involved in title-winning games.

“Getting five in a row is exceptional for us. We just have to focus on the sixth one and the seventh one now and we know we’re good enough to get it.”

Meanwhile, Celtic have announced what they claim to be the “biggest ever shirt sponsorship deal in Scottish football history” after Dafabet was named the club’s new main sponsor in a four-year contract.

The firm will replace Magners on the front of the Celtic strip next season, with the cider brand moving to the back of the jersey.

Chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Celtic continues to be one of the world’s great football clubs and one which is delighted to attract such high-calibre associations.

“Partnerships such as the one we announce today allow us to look forward with confidence as we ensure Celtic maintains its position as the biggest and best in Scottish football.”