Tony Mowbray is optimistic Scott Brown will be fit for the game against Motherwell on Saturday.
Celtic midfielder battling to be fit to face Motherwell
Tony Mowbray is optimistic Scott Brown will be fit for the game against Motherwell on Saturday.
The Celtic midfielder withdrew from the Scotland squad for the 2-0 friendly defeat in Japan after feeling discomfort in his ankle.
Brown had surgery on the problem back in May and Mowbray believes the short rest will prove beneficial.
Mowbray also issued an upbeat bulletin on the fitness of summer signing Marc-Antoine Fortune, who has been sidelined for seven weeks with a knee injury.
"I hope Scott is going to be okay for the Motherwell game," said the Bhoys manager.
"We've been nursing him through the last few weeks and he needed a break. We wanted to give him a rest and the specialist felt that would benefit him, too.
"That's why Scott didn't go to Japan and hopefully it will help him over the coming weeks.
Fortune looking fit
"Marc-Antoine Fortune is another player that we're assessing closely and we hope he isn't too far away.
"Marc had some rehab to do, but he's been back running on the grass and things seem to be fine with him. He's looking fit and strong, but we'll move him on to twisting and turning this week and then contact football before too long."
Celtic's lead at the top of the SPL table was trimmed to one point following the 2-1 defeat by Rangers before the international break but Mowbray insists he has been largely satisfied with the start of the season.
He said: "Ultimately, the pleasing aspect is that we are top of the league. We are all disappointed by the Rangers result, but the opening fixtures have been tough."
