SCOTT BROWN can’t wait for supporters to be allowed back into stadiums, and not just for the backing they provide to his team. The Celtic skipper is also hoping that his constant cajoling will soon be drowned out to all but the teammates it is intended for.

One of the most fascinating aspects of football behind closed doors has been the opportunity to hear what the players are saying to one another during a match, and there is no mistaking the leadership role played by Brown as he often colourfully reminds his colleagues what is expected of them on the park.

“You don’t usually hear that, do you?” Brown said. “Get the fans back, eh?”

That may indeed happen on Sunday against Motherwell at Celtic Park, but either way, Brown isn’t about to clam up.

“Everyone knows the standards the gaffer and his staff set in training,” he said. “It’s about how we react to that.

“They give us everything possible in training. They show us how the other team is going to play and how we need to build up.

“You’ve got Callum McGregor who talks all the way through the game, Nir (Bitton) does as well. We’ve got guys like that all through the team.

“Then we’ve got quality like (Albian) Ajeti to come on, Ryan Christie, James (Forrest) who came on, Patryk (Klimala) has scored a lot for us in pre-season. It’s great to have that strength in depth.

“The club is trying everything to make it as safe as possible to get fans back in. Because football is difficult without fans for us. That’s what makes it special. Especially when you score goals, you run, you celebrate with them.

“For us to get them back would be amazing, whether it’s Sunday or not.”

Brown was delighted for goalscoring hero Albian Ajeti, who climbed off the bench to bag the winner against Dundee United with his first ever goal for the club, and he says there is more to come from the Swiss striker.

“He’s a strong boy who wants to turn people,” he said. “But he also wants to get in the box and score goals. He’s shown his quality in training, he’s shown it in games now.

“We have a lot to thank him for because we couldn’t get the ball in the net against a very well organised Dundee United team.

“The good thing is they’ll always get chances here. We create a lot of chances in most games. [Saturday] was a little bit different. But he’s had a great attitude and he’s worked hard after having four weeks off.

“So for him to come back in, do a wee mini-preseason, play a game three or four days after coming in, then play a bit of the game against United, it shows you his attitude is spot on.

“He will score goals for us. That is what we’ve been looking for, that penalty-box striker who will score those tap-ins. He took that goal really, really well.

“He’s scored some great goals in training. It’s just that little bit of movement in the box. I get up there and I don’t know what to do; there’s a few people like that.

“But these boys have this natural knack. Him, Odsonne (Edouard), Griff (Leigh Griffiths), they just know how to get the ball into the back of the net. It’s great to have those players.

“He’s very quiet, he’s very modest – and he’s happy to be here. Those are the people you want around. You want people who want to be here, who want to put the hard work in – and who can score you goals.

“He’s one of those guys, a nice guy around the changing room.

“Here’s hoping there’s a lot more goals to come from him, that’s for sure.”