Brown warns Gers of a ‘stronger’ Celtic

Skipper Scott Brown sent out a warning to Rangers by claiming Celtic have improved since their comprehensive 5-1 victory at Ibrox.

Brendan Rodgers’ side went unbeaten on their way to the domestic treble last season and knocked the Light Blues out of both major cup competitions at the semi-final stage.

Rangers took just one point from four Ladbrokes Premiership games with Celtic and were on the end of two 5-1 thrashings, the latest at Ibrox in April.

Celtic – who will include striker Moussa Dembele and defender Jozo Simunovic in the squad for the trip to Tayside – have since extended their unbeaten run against Scottish clubs to 56 games ahead of the first Old Firm game of the season at lunchtime today.

Asked if the Parkhead side were better than the last time they visited Govan, the Scotland captain said: “Yeah, we are stronger, we are fitter and more together as well.

“We have a few different formations that we can chop and change during the game. It is always based on what the gaffer has been doing in training since the start of the season.”

The 32-year-old midfielder claimed Celtic’s dominant 4-0 Betfred Cup quarter-final win over Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night exemplified Rodgers’ desire to keep raising standards at the club.

“The gaffer is always raising the bar as far as it can go,” Brown said.

“He was delighted with that performance in midweek against Dundee.

“But there is always room for improvement and here’s hoping we can do that on Saturday. We always go confident. We always go there with a belief that we can win anywhere we go and I think that is why we have done so well in the last season and a half.”

Rangers could have upwards of six players featuring in their first Old Firm game, while the vast majority of the Hoops squad have been over the course before and Brown is relishing a return to Ibrox.

“Experience is great but I am sure they will relish the challenge as well, playing in front of their own fans,” the former Hibernian player said.

“We are looking forward to it as well. “Going to Ibrox is a great occasion for us and we have some fond memories. It is a hard place to go but it is also a great place to go when you go there and win.”

Celtic meanwhile have been nominated for FIFA’s goal and fans of the year awards.

Moussa Dembele’s strike against St Johnstone in February, after all of his team-mates touched the ball, is among 10 nominated goals for the world governing body’s Puskas Award.

Hoops supporters face competition from Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen in the vote for the fan award.

Their nomination is for the display honouring the Lisbon Lions in the final Ladbrokes Premiership match of last season against Hearts.