Scott Brown played for an hour as a Celtic XI managed by Neil Lennon overcame Drogheda United 3-1.
The Scotland midfielder is likely to go straight back into the first team for Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie at Dunfermline.
Brown has missed the last three months of the season but did come on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock where he played at left-back and replaced Glenn Loovens as captain.
Norwegian defender Thomas Rogne also featured in the side but it was James Forrest that made the biggest impact on the match.
Forrest has been an unused substitute on numerous occasions this season and is clearly earmarked as ‘one for the future’.
Drogheda took the lead in the 38th minute but Forrest equalised before half-time with Brown putting Celtic in front four minutes into the second half.
Three minutes later Paul McGowan showed his class with a fine turn and finish to find the net following a break down the right from Forrest.
CELTIC — Cervi; Towell, Lafferty, Vallers, Rogne (D Gallagher 82); Tolmie, Keatings, Brown (G Gallagher 62); Spence, McGowan, Forrest.
