SCOTT Brown believes the competition within the Hoops midfield is the highest it has been in his time at Celtic and believes the new additions to the squad will ensure the team maintain their high standards for the duration of the season.

David Turnbull is the latest addition to Neil Lennon’s team and the highly rated 21-year-old will hope his career trajectory continues to mirror that of Celtic captain Scott Brown who also signed for the club at 21.

Brown was full of praise for the former Motherwell midfielder and said Turnbull arrived at Celtic fully aware of the weight of expectation he would have to shoulder.

“David’s a great guy,” said Brown. “I’ve spoken to him quite a lot. Technically he’s very good and he understands what Celtic is all about, especially having played against the side.

“I know it’s a hard thing to come to a team like Celtic with all the demands that get put on you but he knows what it’s all about. He’s been great in training and here’s hoping we see a lot more of him in games.”

Turnbull’s arrival has bolstered Neil Lennon’s options in midfield and the young midfielder will face stiff competition for a place in the Celtic team given the quality of team-mates in that area of the pitch.

Brown feels the quality of midfielders currently in the team made competition for a place in the centre of the park at an all-time high for him and said other areas of the team were also benefiting from players pushing each other for a place in the starting XI.

“The competition is great in the middle of the park and it’s probably the most competitive it’s been in that area since I’ve been here,” said Brown. “We have about seven or eight midfielders wanting a spot but there’s only three. Everyone has to fight for their spot and make sure they keep working hard in training and stay injury-free so we can last this whole campaign.

“The new lads have been brilliant since coming in. It’s been good to see everyone getting a turn on the pitch and working hard in training. Some of them still need to up their fitness a bit due to them coming from different teams and having different pre-seasons. It’s about getting up to the standards we set and everyone is not too far off that.

“The gaffer wanted to add some quality so we could rest players and chop and change the formation. The competition is great and that’s what we need because it pushes everyone on in the squad.”

Brown: Competition in the Celtic midfield more intense than ever