PRE SEASON FRIENDLY FIRING LINE

Hoops round off French tour with PSG game as skipper says he is happy with keeper Bain

SCOTT BROWN insists Celtic will be in safe hands if Scott Bain starts the season between the sticks. Hoops boss Neil Lennon is hoping to have a new goalkeeper on board by the end of the week after the departure of Craig Gordon and the collapse of the move to keep Fraser Forster.

Bain is last senior man standing and he impressed on pre-season duty in France after starting the 1-1 draw with Nice and the 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Saturday. The 28-year-old will look to hold off PSG in Paris tomorrow night and Brown admitted he would have no fears if the former Dundee ace was handed the gloves for Celtic’s Premiership opener against Hamilton.

The skipper hailed the keeper for handling the heat when he was pitched in for his Hoops debut in the crucial 3-2 Old Firm victory at Ibrox in March 2018 and insisted the No.1 has kept his cool whenever called on. Brown said: “Scott’s a top goalkeeper, he is very composed with the ball at his feet and he’s a shot stopper. He’s a good one to have and if he starts the season then I’m sure the lads would be delighted with that.

“I’m sure he will be pushing himself regardless of whether someone else comes in or not to try to focus on getting that No.1 jersey.

“We’d trust him to do the business, definitely.

“Bainy never lets anyone down and I’m sure he’ll step up if he plays this week, the next or whenever.

“It’s not like he lost his place. He injured his finger – you know what goalies as like with their fingers

– and that was why he wasn’t in the team.

“That’s how it is with keepers, only one can play, but he’s always worked hard and been ready whenever the call has come.” Bain will have his work cut out against PSG’S £400m frontline tomorrow night but Brown (inset) is hoping playing in front of fans is a sign of things to come in Scotland. Celtic’s hopes of having punters through the doors in August took a hit with the government admitted it could be October before crowds get the green light. PSG will allow around 5,000 in to the Parc de Princes for the glamour friendly and French authorities are exploring access for up to 20,000 for the cup final at the end of the month. Brown is hoping Scottish chiefs will follow their lead and let supporters return to Premiership matches soon.

He said: “It will be good to be playing in front of fans again, even if the numbers are reduced. I don’t expect them to be there for the first game of our season. It would be great if they could be there for flag day but the most important thing is getting through this safely as possible.

“The club are pushing for it as well and hopefully they’ll be back in as soon as possible. Maybe these matches will show it can be done and the Scottish authorities will be watching.

“We have to win each week whether it’s in front of no fans or 60,000.

“We will need to do it the hard way but we’ll look forward to getting them back as we’ve certainly missed them.”

NICE TO BE A WINNER George Edmundson wins an aerial battle in Rangers’ win over Nice on Saturday THEY are normally referred to by three letters but when most sides think PSG what they really mean is SOS. The French champions can be frightening but Patryk Klimala is adamant Celtic won’t be petrified in Paris. The Hoops face the ultimate test against PSG in the Parc de Princes tomorrow evening. This is a side with a terrifying £400million front line of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi, who have been running amok during pre-season. Paul le Guen’s Le Havre were hammered 9-0 last week, with Scott Bain is Celtic No.1 for the moment the former Rangers boss admitting it could have been double that. Belgian outfit Waaslandbeveren were smashed for seven on Saturday night. Klimala (right) said: “It’s PSG but we will play like we would against anybody. “It’s PSG, a big club, but it’s a normal game. “If we go into it scared then we will have lost before the game even starts. Of course they are human. They have a lot of big names like Mbappe and Neymar. “I have watched them in the Champions League but I think on the pitch we have a good chance to win the game. “It will help our preparations but I work in every game and treat every one the same.”

KIERAN TIERNEY admits he can’t wait to experience an FA Cup final with Arsenal – and see how it matches up with walking out at Hampden for Celtic. The former Hoops defender was involved in both of Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s goals in Saturday’s 2-0 semifinal success over Manchester City, including an assist for the second with a perfectly weighted pass. Playing on the left of a defensive three, Tierney (inset) was also part of a Gunners rearguard that came in for praise on a night that saw Mikel Arteta’s side repel wave after wave of attack. Next month’s Wembley showpiece now awaits the £25million left-back at the end of a challenging first season at Arsenal that has been hampered by injury. A beaming Tierney (top), who won two Scottish Cups with Celtic while picking up a total of eight domestic trophies, said: “I’m very proud. I’ll be really looking forward to it. “It’s probably not sunk in yet to be honest but I’m just buzzing for every single one of the boys. “I’m gutted that the fans couldn’t be here. It would have been a great occasion for them today. This one was for the fans and it’s a great result for us. “We knew coming in here it was going to be a tough game after a hard match against Liverpool a few days ago but we’ve had two great results. “We took confidence, it was a great defensive performance and Auba was brilliant as always.”