Celtic have other leaders, says captain Scott Brown

Kris Commons scored the penalty won by Scott Brown against Motherwell

Captain Scott Brown does not think Celtic rely too heavily on himself and Kris Commons for leadership.

Manager Ronny Deila said it was an ingredient missing until the pair came on as half-time substitutes in Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell.

"There a few people in that dressing-room that help," countered Brown. "There's Charlie Mulgrew and Kris - and Craig Gordon as well.

"It's a good dressing-room to be in and hopefully we can go and get results."

There's a lot of new faces that have come in and it is going to take a little while to gel together

Significantly though, none of the other three players mentioned by Brown started against Motherwell.

Commons, Gordon and Brown himself were given a rest by starting on the bench, while Mulgrew was again absent through injury, as Deila made six changes after the Europa League draw away to Salzburg.

Brown won the penalty, which was converted by Commons for Celtic's equaliser against the Steelmen.

"We've got a lot of injuries as well, so it was good for the other ones to get a game and try to get some fitness," suggested Brown.

"Everyone needs a bit of match fitness to prove two games down the line how they can do, so it was good for them to get that under their belt.

"There's a lot of new faces that have come in and it is going to take a little while to gel together.

"But it's definitely coming because it's been coming on the training field so hopefully we can put that into matches now."

Deila intends playing his strongest team against Championship leaders Hearts in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday.

"There's a lot of reasons why we pick our teams and things the press and people around can't always see what's happening behind the scenes," said the manager.

Ronny Deila says it is important to be honest and criticise his players when appropriate

"We always want to play the best team, but sometimes it's not possible.

"Of course there's some reason why Kris and Scott didn't play on Sunday, but we have an important game on Wednesday and we are going to go in with everything we have."

Deila says he will not shirk from criticising his players again.

"I think it's important to be honest and say how it is," he added. "You have to adapt and learn from every experience.

"If you are not honest, you are just saying good things to each other, you never go forwards.

"It's important that the fans and everyone knows what's going on, what standards we want.

"We need leaders on the pitch to show us what we're going to do and how we're going to do it.

"Scott and Kris went on and we got that leadership and opened them up as well."