THOUGH doing so in a socially-distanced format, the Hoops began a phased-return to training at the club’s Lennoxtown facility today (Thursday). Scott Brown was among the starts back on the grass this morning, and the skipper couldn’t be happier.

“It was great to see some of the lads,” said Brown in an exclusive interview with Celtic TV. “It’s a totally different situation out on the pitch. But it was still great to get back into the swing of things and hopefully we’re on going in the right direction. It was good just to get back on the grass, and to get a touch on the ball as well.

“We did a little bit of running, a little bit of passing, and I think the first couple of days will be about getting the legs back and working hard.

“The lads have been on running apps, we’ve been working hard while away, and the coaches just need to make sure we’re all in good shape, make sure it’s nice and easy before the hard work really does start.”

Brown joked about maintaining football sharpness by way of kickabouts with his kids at home, but was delighted to be back at the club's training centre again after such a long period away.

The Scottish football calendar was first postponed in March, before Neil Lennon’s side were awarded their ninth successive league title on May 18. Now, the captain wants nothing more but to re-establish his sharpness, before pushing on in the historic season ahead.

He added: “I’ve had a few touches of the ball with the kids in the house! No, it’s totally different going back in with the lads, people like Tom Rogic turning, moving the ball and seeing him gliding across the grass again was great. So was seeing Jamesy sprinting with the ball, and Cal just being a genius as he usually is. It was a great bunch of lads to work with today and I think we’re together for the next few days.

“We’ve missed it, we’ve missed being competitive in training and in games. I’m 35 in a couple of weeks so, for me especially, I need to stay on top of my fitness as much as I possibly can.

To have 12 or 13 weeks out, that’s not ideal for me at this stage in my career, but I’ve managed it. I went into training today and I felt good. Perhaps not as good as I did when I left, but I’m still in good condition.

“It’s all about looking after your body, and it’s about doing what I know works for me. That might be going to the gym, not going the day before a game, resting now and then, and of course working hard in training.

"At my age, I’ve got to push my body as far as I possibly can. It’s about working as hard as the rest of the lads and then even harder to make sure that I’m in top shape and hitting the stats that I should be at Celtic Park.”

Scott Brown: it was great to get back on the grass at Lennoxtown