Celtic captain Scott Brown has picked out Aberdeen as the biggest threat to his side's Premiership title defence.

The Pittodrie side have finished second in the league for the past two seasons and Brown said he had been impressed by Derek McInnes' side.

Asked to pick the biggest challengers in the title race for the forthcoming season he told Sky Sports: ""I think Aberdeen after the last couple of seasons.

"They have been exciting to watch, they have come to Celtic Park and got points and we have struggled up there. So hopefully we can do a little bit better this season."

Brown was also looking forward to the Glasgow derby with Rangers but said there were important games to be played before September 10.

"We'll see [how Rangers are] when it comes, that's the fifth game of the season so we have got a few before that and, as I said, Aberdeen have been great the last couple of years and so have Hearts after coming back up last season," he said.

"It will be good. It's always good, a Rangers-Celtic game, especially with the atmosphere. But there's lots of huge games coming up for us and that's way down the line."

Of more immediate concern is the crucial Champions League qualifier against Astana on Wednesday. The away goal in last week's 1-1 draw gives Celtic the advantage and Brown is keen to finish the job.

"That [away goal] is always going to help us. We played well on the day and maybe could have sneaked another one," he said.

"But it's going to be a great atmosphere back at Celtic Park and we're looking forward to the game."