Paul hails the Bhoy wonder Brown
Brown’s ambitions possibly stretching all the way to 100 continental displays.
And Lambert, who won the European Cup with Borussia Dortmund, believes it is the player’s continued quest to play at the top that has fuelled his success.
“You need thick skin to play at Celtic,” said Lambert. “To have done it for a decade takes some doing. You need to be a big player to be able to fill the jersey at Celtic and to have that longevity, to be able to keep winning. To keep putting yourself out there says so much about his own ambition.
“There will be people who tell you they were Celtic players and live off an association with the club – but who were actually there for two minutes. To do it season after season and at the top level is impressive because it is a club where you don’t hide.
“You don’t get away with not playing at your best. I am not surprised that he has become the record holder in terms of the number of European games he has played because over the years he has shown leadership qualities but has also been integral to the club.
“He has thrived in an environment in which you don’t prove yourself then sit back – you need to prove it again and again.”
Meanwhile, Lambert also insisted that it is a nonsense that Celtic have to go through qualifying to get to the Champions League group stage.
“If you win your league you should be straight in there, it is as simple as that,” said Lambert. “To have to get through six games is a joke.
“People will disparage Scottish football and fair enough, it is not at the same level as some of the top European league – but there is no league that is easy to win.
“It is an unfair system geared towards the best leagues.”