Neil Lennon knows better than most what been 34/35 years of age does to a professional footballer. Lennon was a box to box midfielder until age kicked in and slowed him down. You can adapt your game and play a smarter role but ultimately you can hear the clock ticking down.

That’s why Lennon’s words about his skipper in the Daily Record should please Celtic fans. The Irishman was full of praise for his skipper and where he is at with his fitness as a 34-year-old Celtic player.

He said: “At 34, there’s no sign of him slowing down yet.

“I know it’s early in the season but his athleticism and fitness levels are remarkably high for a player of his age. He’s a bit different to everybody else, he’s just a natural.”

“In any of the running sessions we do, Scott’s at the front. He has incredible cardiovascular capacity. He sets the tempo in training. He’s at the forefront and takes responsibility.”

“He was outstanding in both of Champions League qualifying games against Sarajevo and he’s a safety valve for us.

“If he was out of the team for any concerted period of time – it would be a serious concern for me.”

Brown seems to have to prove himself over and over again at Celtic. He was written off last season after a poor performance from the entire Celtic team at Ibrox, but Brown is the one that got singled out. The Celtic captain went on to turn his and the Bhoys season around when they went on an unbeaten run at the start of 2019 and they went on to win another treble.

Brown knows he has people waiting to put the boot in which must be why he keeps himself so fit and hungry. The Celtic captain also has the added motivation of lifting his ninth league trophy in a row this season.