Competition for places ‘will push everyone on’

a rest, sometimes he might somebody else needs a rest.

“Odsonne (Edouard) had a rest at the weekend there because he has played a lot of games and he was away with France.

“That’s up to the manager, he picks the team for that game depending on everyone’s form, how people are feeling, whether people have got little niggles as well.

“I have got great respect for the manager so, whoever he picks, we all stand by him.”

Brown and McGregor’s importance to Lennon’s plans has seen Olivier Ntcham compete for a place further forward with Ryan Christie.

David Turnbull is waiting for his full debut following his move from Motherwell and Tom Rogic is yet to feature this season.

January signing Ismaila Soro has only played 12 minutes while the strength of depth in midfield means Nir Bitton is increasingly viewed as a defender.

“Competition is great in the middle of the park,” Brown said.

“That’s probably the strongest for competition there has been since I have been here. There’s about seven or eight midfielders that could play in three spots. think

“It’s always going to be hard but everyone has got to fight for their place.

“We have to make sure we work hard in training and make sure everyone is injury-free as well, so that we can last this whole campaign as well.”

Lennon has strengthened throughout in recent weeks, from goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, centre-back Shane Duffy, Turnbull to forward Albian Ajeti, who netted his fourth goal in five league games against Livingston.

“That’s the one thing the gaffer wanted to add, he wanted to add some quality, so that we could rest players and chop and change and change formations as well,” Brown said.

“He has done that and brought in some great players. The good thing is we can play 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, we can play whatever we want during the game with the players we have in there.

“Odsonne can drop into a 10 nice and easy, he can play up top as well but he can drop off.

“Albie is the one that’s been holding the line, holding the ball in and he’s been creating chances and scoring some great goals as well.

“Competitions is good and it’s what pushes everyone on and that’s what we need in this squad.”

Picture: SNS Group. Celtic captain Scott Brown has started all nine of the Hoops’ games this season.