Scott has to play ifCelticaretoget victorytheycrave

SCOTT BROWN will enter the Old Firm battleground for the 43rd and potentially final time tomorrow.

It will definitely be his last bow in a derby that actually means anything.

Had Brown’s hunger, drive and mettle been injected into every teammate at Parkhead this season, then perhaps the final derby a few weeks later might have had more significance.

That’s all ifs and buts though, with the Hoops’ 10-in-a-row car crash barely even visible in Rangers’ rearview mirror.

What is certain is that tomorrow is the biggest clash with Rangers left in the decorated skipper’s Celtic career – and is absolutely key to any chance he has of bowing out with silverware.

Brown has been on the winning side in 22 of his previous 42 Old Firms, losing 14 of those encounters.

Those stats, added to his 22 trophies over 14 years, add up to one indisputable fact – he is a born winner.

That’s why questions over whether playing Brown tomorrow would smack of sentimentality should be binned right away.

There’s nobody at the moment a better fit for what is required at Ibrox tomorrow in terms of dragging the Hoops to a desperately needed win.

In last month’s derby draw he proved he has the legs to match Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Co in the middle of the park.

Making simple passes, shutting off space, snapping into tackles and, of course, picking up the obligatory booking. It was all still there. But it’s the unseen stuff – the vocals, bossing his side, controlling their shape and tempo, giving a jag when necessary and cajoling when required – that’s every bit as important.

Leading by example. Displaying his know-how. Being a captain.

Who else in that Celtic squad comes close to those levels of leadership?

In contrast, Rangers have leaders in every area of the pitch and it’s a cliche but it’s true – going into games of this magnitude, you want to look around a changing room and see you are in the trenches with winners and game changers.

The away one at Ibrox will certainly be a lot

There is nobody a better fit for what is required at Ibrox tomorrow

more charged if the Hoops’ No.8 is stripped and has the armband on.

The debate whether Celtic should have done more to hold on to him is pointless now. He’s off to Aberdeen in a matter of weeks.

Celtic last week revealed plans for a special tribute to Brown at their final home game of the season.

But his team-mates would be well advised that the most fitting going-away present they could give the 35-year-old would undoubtedly be at Hampden on May 22.