CELTIC will almost certainly complete a million pound deal today which

will bring Middlesbrough's Tony Mowbray to Parkhead, writes Ian Paul.

The clubs have agreed a transfer fee of #1m and manager Liam Brady

began talks with the defender last night. The terms for Mowbray were the

only factor left to settle his transfer and all being well he should

make his debut against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Brady, while disappointed at his team's exit from Europe,

said:''I told you it was possible to beat Neuchatel on the aggregate. We

made the chances to do it, but we didn't stick the ball in the net as we

should have. But all credit to my players. They fought to the very

end.''

He did not accept that if Charlie Nicholas had scored with a penalty

early on it would have made the difference. ''It doesn't always work

that way, but I must admit that the way the Swiss reacted to our first

goal when it did come you never know.''

He said that as far as the penalty miss is concerned he told

Nicholas:''Forget it, son.'' He pointed out that the Celtic striker had

been a super player for him this season and that these things can happen

to anyone.

Brady's biggest disappointment was that after the first goal he felt

Celtic could have scored four or five. ''But life must go on and there's

everything to play for.''