BROWN IN LINE FOR PARADISE PAYDAY

SCOTT BROWN has opened negotiations with Celtic about a testimonial. The 31-year-old will make his 400th appearance for the club this evening as Celtic host St Johnstone and dialogue about marking 10 years at the club is underway with chief executive Peter Lawwell.

“We have been speaking, Peter and I, so it could happen but I am in no rush,” said Brown, who was signed for Celtic by Gordon Strachan in 2007 from Hibs.

“If they offered me another fouryear deal I’d be happy to accept! But definitely, I still have the legs and I still have the love of the game.”

Brown could mark his tenth season

at the club with a domestic Treble, something he admits he has been trying to achieve for the last decade.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have already won the League Cup and currently hold a 19-point lead at the top of the table. Inverness Caledonian Thistle await in the Scottish Cup next month and Brown is quietly excited about the challenge of delivering a clean sweep.

“It would be lovely,” he told the club’s official TV channel. “I have wanted it every season that if I have been here and if I could do it in my 10th season it would be fantastic.”

And Brown has relished this season as Rodgers has re-energised the club. Brown has been one of the key players under the Northern Irishman and the Celtic skipper believes that there is still plenty of football in him yet.

“I feel as good as I have ever felt in a Celtic jersey,” he said. “The gaffer has come in and I am enjoying his training.”

Meanwhile, Aberdeen have completed the loan signing of Celtic’s Ryan Christie until the end of the season.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes said: “I am delighted to get a player of Ryan’s quality into the club.

“We want to make a couple of additions in the January window – quality additions – and there is no doubt Ryan has the quality to come in and make an impact with us.”