IN British football they tend to view pre-arranged transfers with an unhealthy dose of suspicion.

Unlike on the Continent - where, for example, Borussia Dortmund supporters continued to heartily cheer Robert Lewandowski despite the striker penning a deal to join rivals Bayern Munich the following summer - the feeling here is that a player will not be able to perform at his peak if he has already made his mind up that his future lies elsewhere. And if said player ends up facing his soon-to-be employers after the deal has been announced? Don't expect him to try a leg.

Scott Brown has heard it all before and doesn't believe a word of it. The midfielder found himself in that very situation almost eight years ago and few would dare suggest he was anything other than his usual committed, wholehearted self. A deal to take Brown from Hibernian to Celtic for around £4m had just been announced when, by coincidence, the teams met at Easter Road on the final game of the 2006/07 season.

Brown, desperate to leave Hibs on a high while also impressing the Celtic fans, put in a tenacious performance that erased any doubts that he would be in any way conflicted. He scored with a rare header as Hibs went on to defeat the Scottish champions 2-1, and come full-time was cheered heartily by all four sides of the stadium.

"You've still got to play for the club you are with," he said. "I loved my time at Hibs and, although I knew I was going to Celtic, the Hibs fans were brilliant with me. You are looking forward to joining the club you're going to, but you want to do well for the club you're at as well."

Not everyone appreciated Brown's endeavour on the day. "I got a standing ovation from the crowd that day but I didn't get one from Darren O'Dea - I remember that! We were almost fighting and then he said he'd see me when I got to Celtic. That wasn't really what I needed but Darren and I are best pals now. We laugh about it now but at the time it wasn't so funny."

The experience gives Brown comfort that there is little prospect of Gary Mackay-Steven suddenly becoming entirely ineffective now he has penned a pre-contract agreement to move from Dundee United to Celtic in the summer. United, in theory, are still in contention for the title and, more realistically, could meet Celtic in the League Cup final. Brown cannot envisage any other scenario than Mackay-Steven continuing to give his all in a United shirt, regardless of the opposition.

"I'm sure he'll give 100 percent playing against us and anybody else," added the Celtic captain ahead of this evening's home game against Motherwell. "He might even give more against us than you'd expect, just to prove that he has hasn't downed tools. I hope the Dundee United fans are brilliant with him as well, because he has done great with that club. He hasn't said a bad word about his club and when I speak to people, they all have good things to say about him."

Brown's views on his occasional Scotland team-mate were sought out by manager Ronny Deila when he first became interested in Mackay-Steven.

"He's a great player. He came into the Scotland squad, he's got pace and can beat a man. He's got a bit of skill as well, which is great, and has a final ball. Any team would be delighted to have him. Whether we get him in January or at the end of the season, he will be boosting our squad. The manager asked me what he was like and what kind of guy he is. He's quiet and very focused on playing football. To come to a club like Celtic, he'll know that we want to win things and he'll want to do that as well."

While Mackay-Steven is on his way, another midfielder looks like he is on the road out. Brown offered a, presumably light-hearted, excuse for Kris Commons throwing his boots into the crowd at Hamilton on Saturday - "they are astro-boots and it was our last game on astro!" - but admitted it would be a huge loss should the player end up moving on.

"Of course, we'd love him to stay but it's between the gaffer, Peter [Lawwell, chief executive] and Kris. If it doesn't work, everyone at the club will be gutted to see him go."