SCOTT STILL BIT TOO HOT

PEOPLE have said he’s done. His legs have gone. He’s not the player he once was.

That he slows Celtic down whenever he’s in the team. Could never have made it in England.

Danny Swanson has heard the critics spouting forth on Scott Brown (above).

And he reckons that anyone who shares even one of these opinions about the Hoops skipper doesn’t know the first thing about football.

The St Johnstone playmaker found himself on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday in the first of three battles with Brown over 11 days.

He’s determined to even the score at Mcdiarmid Park this afternoon – but after being dominated for 90 minutes in midweek, he knows it won’t be easy.

Especially against a guy he believes is still a the peak of his powers and could be for five more years. Brown, 33, has officially knocked back a multimillion pound offer to finish his career in Australia and is now expected to pen a two-year extension to his deal with the champions.

Swanson said: “A lot of people are saying that maybe his legs have gone but I can guarantee you they’ve not. He’s still a top player. That’s why he has been at Celtic for so long.

“I know him well and they way he changes when he goes on to the pitch, compared to how he is off it, it’s massive. I think the difference shows for Celtic when he’s in the team. He makes everybody tick. He is a class player.

“And if he starts controlling the game then you have a problem.

“With guys like Ryan Christie and Callum Mcgregor playing off him, it’s scary to play against sometimes. Personally I think Broony is still the guy who sets the tone.”