SCOTT BROWN accepts that he may not be able to start every game for Celtic this season, with the Parkhead captain insisting he respects the rotation policy put in place by Neil Lennon.
The 35-year-old has faced criticism of his performances so far this season from certain quarters, with some questioning the central midfielder's role in the Premiership champions' starting XI.
But with a long and arduous campaign ahead, Brown admits that he, like anyone else, will be rested from time to time in order to keep the starting line-up match-fit, pointing to Lennon's decision to bench Odsonne Edouard for Saturday's 3-2 home win over Livingston as an example that every plyer will rotate in and out of the squad as the season progresses.
"I feel fine," Brown said. "As I said at the start of the season, he picks the starting XI and squad week in, week out.
"Sometimes he might think I need a rest or others might need a rest like it was with Odsonne [Edouard] at the weekend, because he’s had a lot of games and been away with France.
"That’s up to the manager. He picks the best team for each game depending on form, how people are feeling, little niggles and things like that.
"I’ve got great respect for the manager so whoever he picks we all stand by."
Brown added that the new arrivals of Vasilis Barkas, Shane Duffy, David Turnbull and Albian Ajeti have given Lennon plenty of options with how to set up his team, highlighting the tactical versatility of the current crop of players on the books at Parkhead.
He continued: "That [summer signings] was the one thing the gaffer wanted to add. He wanted to add some quality so that we could rest players and chop and change and change formations as well.
"He has done that and brought in some great players. The good thing is we can play 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 - we can play whatever we want during the game with the players we have in there.
"Odsonne can drop into a 10 nice and easy, he can play up top as well but he can drop off. Albie is the one that’s been holding the line, holding the ball in and he’s been creating chances and scoring some great goals as well.
"Competition is good and it’s what pushes everyone on, and that’s what we need in this squad."
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