Scott Brown believes that Celtic are capable of making it to a European final under Brendan Rodgers.

The Parkhead side are out to win an invite to Europe’s biggest party by moving towards a place in the group stages of the Champions League tonight as they line up against AEK Athens.

And while making it back into the group stages is the main ambition of the season, Brown believes it is not outlandish to believe Celtic could replicate the achievements of Martin O’Neill’s team who made it to the UEFA Cup final in 2003.

“It was exceptional when Neil Lennon and those boys got to a European final,” he said. “There were incredible scenes in Seville with all our fans and it would be amazing to do something like that.

“I don’t see why would couldn’t do it. But our aim is to go as far as we can in the Champions League. We’ve reached the last 16 under Lenny and Gordon [Strachan] so that’s the big push for us.”

Brown will have his own achievements to celebrate tonight as he makes a little bit of history by becoming the first Scottish player to feature in a century of European games.

It is a significant milestone for the Parkhead midfielder who will patch himself up in preparation to go again and lead the battle for a place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

If Brown was puzzled at the line of questioning yesterday afternoon at Celtic’s training ground it is because he was unaware of the personal significance of this evening’s encounter against AEK Athens.

“Is it? You learn something new every day,” he smile upon hearing his stats. “You wouldn’t have put money on that when I first signed!”

“Seriously, it’s a great honour to become the first Scot to reach 100 games but for me this is all about getting into the Champions League and being involved in the group stages; that’s when it counts more.”

Never the kind to race after his opponent for a shirt as a souvenir, Brown has nevertheless catalogued a decent montage in his mind’s eye of the games he has been front and centre in.

Having been at Celtic for a decade, Brown’s memoirs of his European adventures are a who’s who of the cream of Europe with a few clear standouts as he sifts through the drama of Continental competition.

“You look at Andres Iniesta, who has gone to play in Japan now,” said Brown. “t was an honour to play against him and, if not get past him, then at least have a good battle with him.

“It’s a privilege to come up against the best out there but I always just see it as games of football that I want to win – hopefully, more than they do. I don’t collect shirts, though. That doesn’t bother me. Some of the lads do but, because I’m up against the guy, I don’t want to run after him when the game is finished because I’ve already been chasing him for 90 minutes.

“Whether it’s win, draw or lose, I just feel I should let him be and vice versa and head for the changing rooms. Who’s the best I’ve played against? Iniesta, the way he turns and faces you as soon as he receives the ball.

“I’m not comparing Tom Rogic to him but he also takes the ball the same way and goes directly at you. When Iniesta was in his prime he was up there with the best players in the world. But it’s part and parcel of football – people get older and you need to change squads. Luckily for him, he was at Barcelona for 16-17 years.

“But I came to Celtic to play against the best and that’s why I’m still here. I want to get back into the group phase and play against Barcelona for the third season in a row. “

Brown missed the night that Lennon’s Celtic side beat Barcelona with a vomiting bug - “I’m quite glad I didn’t play, to be honest, because it would have probably changed the result” – but he has his own share of momentous evenings.

“I think beating AC Milan 2-1 with a last-minute goal was probably the highlight,” he said. “It was great to see Gary Caldwell - big fatheid - having a shot and wee Scott McDonald scoring from the rebound. Then there was the guy running on to the pitch and trying to smash Dida. It was a game with everything.

“I played up front with Scottie that night. Gordon Strachan had told me to be a pain in the backside by running about and closing them down, putting them under pressure and forcing them into mistakes. I was up against Alessandro Nesta!”

While it is nice to take a look over his shoulder, for Brown the excitement is still in what lies ahead.

Celtic have to endure a mini-tournament every summer now as they seek to get back into the group stages and Brown is determined to ensure that there are more big nights under the floodlights this season.

“For me now it’s about playing with a smile on my face and having no regrets,” he said. “I’m just trying to create as many happy memories as possible, keep winning trophies and getting to the Champions League.

“It’s not really joy you feel on the pitch but I do try to keep a smile on my face. When you are out on the pitch it’s not about enjoying the game - it’s about enjoying the victory.

“You don’t always have the best game but as long as you work hard for the lads you can enjoy it afterwards.

“My bucket list is just to keep playing as long as possible. I feel as fit and healthy as ever so trying to get in to the Champions League ever year is the main one.”