‘BROWN COULD HAVE BEEN A STAR IN ENGLAND’

FORMER Scotland international Dominic Matteo insists Scott Brown could have been a huge success in the English Premier League. The Celtic and Scotland skipper led by example once again in the 2-0 victory over Malta on Monday night — and ex-Liverpool and Leeds United defender Matteo is sure the combative midfielder could have made it down south. ‘I am surprised that nobody in the English Premier League took a punt on him,’ said Matteo. ‘The position he plays is massive in British football. The position he plays for Celtic and Scotland wins titles in England. ‘That sitting, defensive midfielder who can break things up and give it and go.’ Matteo, who was in Glasgow for the third-round draw of the Irn-Bru Cup, compared Brown to Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante because he was key to both Leicester’s and Chelsea’s title wins. ‘I think a lot of that [the titles] was down to him and his positional sense and the way he breaks things up. I am not saying Scott is Kante, but that position is very important within the English Premier League,’ said Matteo. ‘Scott proved himself against England and there was a lot of pressure on him going into that match at Hampden, but he proved he could cut it in that company.’ The 43-year-old, who won six caps for his country, also hailed Gordon Strachan for ‘bringing in the right blend of players’ and, in particular, using the Celtic players who are accustomed to success. ‘That winning mentality has been talked about within the squad and that has helped,’ added Matteo. ‘Scotland have players in the team who are winning every week and not used to losing. Being around that only breeds confidence. ‘I was at Liverpool with a dressing room that contained a who’s who and they weren’t used to losing. If they did, the players were angry for three or four days. ‘When I first arrived at Liverpool, there was John Barnes, Ian Rush, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Bruce Grobbelaar — they were all top players and winners and, when we didn’t win, it wasn’t a nice dressing room to be in for days after a defeat. ‘That’s the way it should be. I’m sure it is the same at Celtic with the lads in the Scotland squad. Their winning attitude has rubbed off on the rest of the squad.’