Brown backs Bhoys to rebound from poor spell

SCOTT BROWN moved to allay growing fears among Celtic fans by claiming he is part of the best Hoops squad he has known during his three and a half years at Parkhead.

Neil Lennon’s side have drawn their last three home games against Dundee United, Inverness and Kilmarnock to remain two points behind Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers having played a game more.

Celtic had the chance to leapfrog their Old Firm rivals at the top of the SPL against Killie on Tuesday night but had to rely on a late Thomas Rogne header to salvage a point.

However, the Parkhead skipper, who in his first season with the club after signing from Hibernian in 2007 won the SPL title, remains positive.

“I think this squad is the best squad that I’ve been involved in,” Brown said.

“We just haven’t managed to see people off.

“Hopefully we can get a wee bit of luck ourselves and turn things around and hopefully I will get a few more minutes on the park.

Brown was defensive when asked about Lennon’s propensity for changing his side on a game-by-game basis.

Brown, who returned from a foot injury which had kept him out since October when he replaced Joe Ledley in the second half against the Rugby Park men, said: “It’s up to the manager. He can change every week, depending on who we play.”

With home games against St Johnstone and Motherwell to come before the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on January 2, Brown knows the importance of travelling to Govan at least in touching distance of the champions.