CELTIC fans have spent the last few weeks hoping that Kieran Tierney won’t be on his bike, but cycle rides in the Austrian mountains with Scott Brown are helping to keep his mind off the speculation that surrounds his future at the club.

Club captain Brown has been keeping Tierney busy between training sessions at Celtic’s pre-season training camp as interest from Arsenal in landing the full-back continues to persist, although contrary to reports, there has been no improvement on their original £15m bid that was rejected by Celtic.

But Brown has no worries about the 22-year-old becoming affected by the uncertainty around where he will be playing his football next season.

“We’ve been going away on our bikes, but we’ve stuck to the non-football chat,” Brown said.

“We just get away from everyone and get lost up the mountains. We take the satnav, otherwise we’d end up cycling down the motorway!

“He’s just back trying to build fitness, we room together so it’s been great.

“The talk is part and parcel of the game. Kieran’s been linked with clubs, so has Callum [McGregor], James [Forrest] has been through it, that’s what happens when you are a top quality player.

“They have the ability to do what they want but they are Celtic players and I’m looking forward to starting the season alongside them.

“We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”

One player who definitely won’t be at Celtic next season is Motherwell’s David Turnbull, and Brown is devastated for the youngster that his proposed transfer broke down having already personally welcomed him to the club at their Lennoxtown training ground.

But he has backed Turnbull to get back to his best at Motherwell once he has recovered from the knee operation he now requires.

“I’m gutted for him,” Brown said. “I met him at the training ground and know he was looking forward to coming.

“He seems a great lad. You can never say never, hopefully he’ll keep developing and it could happen for him in the future.

“But you’ve got to feel for the lad, especially after the clubs agreed the deal.

“It’s the hardest thing in the world for him right now because he’s probably been looking forward to the season and thinking about trying to get in the team.

“He’s been here, there and everywhere but I am sure he’ll enjoy being at Motherwell with the lads who have brought him through.

“When you’re that age you don’t think too much. It’s like playing football with your mates who came through at the same time.

“Motherwell is a young team so it will be good for him and hopefully he can eventually pick up the way he finished last season.

“I’ll be looking forward to playing against him.”

Christopher Jullien however has checked into Celtic Park, with the £7m signing from Toulouse being unveiled in Glasgow yesterday before jetting out to join his new teammates in Vienna.

Brown is looking forward to seeing what the imposing six-foot-five centre-half can bring to the side.

“We’ve had a lot of players who’ve left so there is a bit of space in the squad for a few to come in,” he said.

“I’ve seen videos of the big man and he looks the part. He’s some size as well, which is good, because it’s something we’ve maybe lacked in the past.

“He’ll definitely help us.”

Meanwhile, Brown was over the moon to see his friend and teammate Leigh Griffiths make his long-awaited return to action in a friendly against SC Pinkafeld on Wednesday night, after taking time away from the game to battle depression.

“I’m delighted,” he said. “It’s been a hard six months for the wee man and it’s great to see him back on the field.

“It’s now about catching up his fitness levels to the rest of the squad. He’s had 45 minutes now but it’s about the short, sharp bursts he likes, to drop deep then get in behind.

“He’s not got it yet, but he’s only been in a few weeks and it will return after a few games.

“He will always score goals no matter where you put him. Whether it’s a lower league team, Celtic or Real Madrid, the wee man will score goals.

“That’s what he does. He has an unbelievable left foot and it will be great to see him back in the team.”