Scott Brown: 'No excuses should we not make Champions League group stages'

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has insisted that there will be "no excuses" should they be unable to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

The Hoops open their three-game qualifying account when they face Turkish side Stjarnan on Wednesday, as the Scottish Premiership club look to get over the disappointment of being knocked out by Maribor during the last campaign.

"I'm fit and raring to go," said Brown, according to The Scotsman.

"The squad is looking fit and sharp and hopefully we can take that into the game. We are a lot better prepared than last year. It's always hard when a new manager comes in and changes the formation and the way he wants us to play and it took us a good couple of weeks to get into that last year.

"But now there are no excuses. It's definitely unthinkable to go out at this stage, especially for a club like Celtic. We should be in the group stage and that's where we want to be this season."

Brown has made 227 appearances for Celtic since joining the club back in 2007.