Scottish Premiership: Scott Brown: I was right to blast Celtic players

Celtic captain Scott Brown insists he was right to criticise his team-mates following the shock 1-0 defeat by Hamilton at Parkhead.

It was the Hoops' first loss to the Lanarkshire club in 76 years and kept the champions in sixth place in the Scottish Premiership table.

The midfielder has had more than a week to mull over his comments – where he accused players of “hiding” - but has refused to back down.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ross County, Brown said: “I have definitely calmed down but I still believe what I said was right.

"I am not going to change my thoughts on getting beat and being angry.

"I said everyone was hiding, not just some.

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"You have to be disappointed and have it in the back of the head that you could have done something better and as a team we should have done something better.

"Sometimes the truth has got to come out and it is not always the best thing.”

Sometimes the truth has got to come out and it is not always the best thing.

Asked if he had fired the Celtic players up, Brown replied: "We will see in the next few days, won't we?"

Celtic will have Charlie Mulgrew, Mikael Lustig, Adam Matthews and Callum McGregor back from injury on Saturday, with James Forrest close to a return as well.

Hoops boss Ronny Deila said: "It's positive news there. James is very close and was training good today.

"He's been a long time out so we have to be careful.

"Almost everybody is available in the squad which is very good."

Watch Ross County v Celtic live on Sky Sports 3 at 12.45pm on Saturday.