Scott Brown scoffs at Celtic and Rangers challengers as Alan Brazil clamped over 'sloppy' theory

Scott Brown has shut down the prospect of a dark horse claiming the Scottish Premiership title next season ahead of Celtic or Rangers.

The league season will kick off on Saturday as Brendan Rodgers and his troops look to keep the Scottish crown in the Celtic Park trophy cabinet, while Philippe Clement is aiming to lead a Rangers charge for the title with the Belgian's rebuild on-going this summer. But Alan Brazil went a step further as he put the Ayr United boss and Celtic diehard on the spot about the prospect of champions emerging from the chasing pack behind the Big Two.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Brazil said: “Can you see anyone pushing Celtic or Rangers this season or is it a two horse race again?” Brown laughed: ‘Eh, I think Hearts will do well again. I think Hibs will have a better season than they did last year, but you know what it’s going to be like. I fancy Celtic I think they are strong. Brendan has got the players in that he wants and he is having a proper good pre-season as well.”

Brazil then went on to gush about the pre-season heroics of Celtic stating: “That result against Chelsea, I know it’s only pre-season, but when I saw that I thought ‘hello’ - but it’s pre-season. I did look at that and think ‘wow that’s got to be a confidence builder’.”

Brown went on: "I know what you are saying, you can have a good pre-season and start the league season sloppy but the way Celtic are playing just now; I watched them against Chelsea and they were exceptional. To get four goals against top quality opposition shows they are going to get goals again this season.”