Celtic captain Scott Brown insists he does not have an issue with new boy Nadir Ciftci following the striker’s recent arrival from Dundee United
The pair were involved in a number of heated exchanges last season, with one incident seeing Brown accuse his new colleague of deliberately kicking him in the head.
Ciftci completed his move to Parkhead last week and is tipped to add the extra firepower needed to help Celtic get back into the Champions League.
Ronny Deila’s men host Icelandic side Stjarnan on Wednesday in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie and are currently 1.08 to win the match, with the draw 8.50 and the visitors the 29.00 underdogs.
The skipper insists he bears no grudges towards the equally combative Turkish hitman and is looking forward to playing alongside the 23-year-old.
“He has come in and done really well,” Brown told the club’s official website. “He has worked hard and he looks a threat over the top and with the ball into feet as well. He has the strength that we sometimes have lacked up front.
“As soon as you go to a new team, there’s automatically mutual respect. You have run-ins with people as they are good players.
“When Nadir came in, I was delighted as it meant I didn’t have to keep playing against him!”
Although Wednesday sees the Bhoys concentrate on European matters, the arrival of Ciftci will also help their chances of success at home.
Having won the Scottish Premiership in each of the last four seasons, the Glasgow outfit are currently the overwhelming 1.03 favourites to make it five in a row.
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