How to watch Ayr vs Celtic in pre season friendly as Scott Brown welcomes Hoops to Somerset Park

That time has arrived again as Celtic get their pre-season schedule up and running with a short trip to face Ayr United.

Brendan Rodgers' returned to Glasgow for a second stint last season and marked it with a league and Scottish Cup double. Now the focus will be to launch a firm defence of their two crowns while also looking to win the League Cup and put up a real good showing in the newly revamped Champions League alongside Europe's elite. The Hoops will also take on Queen's Park in a friendly next week before they jet off to the USA later this month to round off their pre-season preparations, but have the matter of an emotional reunion with Scott Brown at Somerset Park to get by first.

The former Celtic skipper will lead the Honest Men out against his former employers for the first time as they gear up for another season in the Scottish Championship. Brown has bolstered his squad with some impressive new additions including George Oakley, Jay Henderson and Scott McMann. That's convinced many that they could be set for a promotion charge. And there is no better way to test those credentials than with a tasty showdown with the club that he enjoyed so much success with in his playing days. Here's everything you need to know ahead of Friday night's clash.

Where and when is Ayr Utd vs Celtic?

The game takes place at Ayr's Somerset Park on Friday, July 5. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

What's the occasion?

The game was arranged to mark the opening of Ayr's new North Stand which will be open to spectators for the first time here. It's part of a £2m stadium transformation that will boost the capacity at Somerset Park by around 500. There's also the underlying story of Brown taking on Celtic as a manager for the first time and he's set for a warm reception from the travelling punters.

How can I watch the game?

The game won't be shown live on any TV channels. Celtic TV subscribers can stream the game live to their devices. Fans wanting to watch the game can pick up an annual subscription for £50, or a premium annual subscription for £80 here. That will cover all five of Celtic's pre-season friendlies: against Ayr and Queen's Park, before a trip to the States to face DC United, Man City and Chelsea.

Where else can I follow the action?

You can follow the action right here at dailyrecord.co.uk. We'll be running a live blog with all the pre-match build-up and team news, and every kick of the ball once the clash gets up and running. After the game, we'll have all the reaction from managers and players, as well as a whole lot more.