Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that he is hopeful captain Scott Brown will be available for the club's Champions League match with Spartak Moscow.

Brown requires an operation on his hip but he has delayed the surgery in order to remain in contention for the crucial European tie with Spartak Moscow in two weeks' time, and Lennon believes that it is worth taking the risk on the 27-year-old.

Lennon said: "We have known going into some games that he couldn't last the 90 minutes but we have taken that chance because he is such an important player.

"But obviously we would like him feeling completely free going into these games and that's why we are upping his condition work a bit to see if we can get him peaking for the Moscow game if we can."

Celtic will qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League if they beat Spartak on December 5 and Benfica fail to beat Barcelona.