SCOTT Brown last night vowed to help Celtic win the Ladbrokes Premiership in the following two seasons despite the presence of their city rivals Rangers in the top flight.

Brown, who could square up to Joey Barton in an Old Firm game in the 2015/16 campaign if the Ibrox club sign the notorious midfielder, received the Premiership trophy after the 7-0 win over Motherwell yesterday.

The 30-year-old has been rested for the final three league games of this term and has been left out of the Scotland squad for the end-of-season friendlies against Italy and France.

However, he stressed that he determined to return to full fitness next season and captain the Glasgow club to their sixth and seventh league triumphs.

"The fans have been excellent all day and the lads have been unbelievable," he said. "These days winning the league means so much to everybody. It is something that we can give back.

"I don't think we have to prove anybody wrong. I think the only person who really matters is the new manager who comes in. Critics are critics - I enjoy them. They can say what they want when they want.

"People can say what they want on Twitter, Instagram, wherever. At the end of the day, it's about who goes out on that park and what's best for Celtic. As long as we win cups and leagues critics are always going to be there.

"I would love to say we can make it 10-In-A-Row, but I'm not sure my body can handle it. But the way we're going just now we can keep winning. The win over Motherwell showed the great football we can play.

"You can only beat who is in front of you and we have done that again, for the fifth year in a row. I am sure we will do that again next year and the season after."

Meanwhile, Ryan Christie, who played up front for Celtic yesterday and scored his first goal for the Parkhead club, has expre4ssed optimism he can feature for the first team more often next season.

The 2015 Scottish Young Player of the Year has hardly been involved since being recalled from a loan spell at Inverness Caledonian Thistle midway through the season.

He said: "I’ve no complaints about how the last six months have gone, I feel I have definitely improved as a player. Even coming in and being part of the team and training every day has definitely brought on my game in leaps and bounds.

"I’m just looking forward to next season. I wish a wee bit the season was still going. I was hoping to get one or two games at the end of the season which I managed to do. That was a target ticked off and now I’m just desperate to come back in next season."

Meanwhile, Christie paid tribute to Jack Aitchison who, at 16 years and 71 days, became the youngest player in the 128 years history of Celtic to both make his debut and score a goal and predicted he has a massive future.

"I think it was his first touch as soon as he came on and I think every player in that changing room was delighted for the wee man," he said. "I’ve played a few under-20s games with him and he has really impressed me.

"I couldn’t believe how young he was when somebody told me. So he has a giant future ahead of him if he keeps his heads down."