SCOTT Brown says that he has heard it all before from Rangers players predicting they will win the league, while Celtic just get on with winning it.

Various Rangers players have alluded to feeling that this could be the season that they finally end Celtic's stranglehold on the Premiership title, with Steven Davis predicting that the Ibrox side were on the verge of 'something special'.

But Brown says that Celtic's main focus this season will be on delivering that coveted record-equalling ninth title in a row.

“I’ve heard it all before," Brown said. "Every season. It’s part and parcel of Scottish football.

“Everyone wants to challenge us but we are champions for a reason.

The Herald:

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“We have the staying power to keep improving season after season.

“Winning the league is the main thing for us. The cups have been fantastic these last few seasons.

“We will be focused this year again but we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“We are not speaking about another treble yet. That’s a year down the line.

“Right now we are concentrating on getting fit and the Champions League qualifiers.

"It’s a long season but I’m sure we have the players to kick on in the league again and there’s the League Cup before the end of the year.

“But those are the focus right now.”

Brown has been leading from the front in Celtic's gruelling pre-season preparations in Austria and Switzerland, despite celebrating his 34th birthday in the early days of the trip.

The Herald:

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“It’s hard work but I’m still keeping up with the young ones," Brown said.

“It’s good to get back. You get your holiday in and just go again. It’s natural for us to be going for 12 months.

“Everyone is in good shape. The manager, Duffers (Damien Duff) and Kendo (John Kennedy) has said how much everyone has looked after themselves.

“Sometimes you can lose fitness quickly, even during short time off, but we’ve hit peak numbers already ahead of this time last year."