JUST JEALOUS

Rodgers says Brown critics driven by envy

BRENDAN RODGERS insists critics and opponents of Scott Brown are envious of the Celtic captain’s ability.

Brown was the victim of a reckless red-card challenge by Ross County skipper Andrew Davies last Saturday which has sparked a heated fall-out.

It followed the dismissals of Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove and Motherwell’s Cedric Kipre for incidents involving the Parkhead midfielder, albeit Kipre’s red card was later downgraded to yellow.

Returning fire on opposition fans, players, managers and pundits who have taken pot-shots at his captain in recent weeks, Rodgers last night suggested the rest of Scottish football should seek

to emulate Brown rather than target him. ‘What I’ve found in my time here is that there is a lot of envy towards Scott from all sectors,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘I see it in certain sectors of media, I see it in players and in managers talking about him if they are a pundit or in the press. There’s a definite envy of his ability and his influence. ‘I think he’s a player who should be emulated. ‘What doesn’t get spoken about with Scott — and I tend to bang the drum — is what a good player he is. ‘I read a report about him being mediocre — come on! Mediocre for me is average, ordinary. Now there might be people better qualified than me — but I worked in the Championship and took a team up with good players and then worked with them in the Premier League. Then I worked at the top with world-class players and what I know, 100-per-cent fact, is that Scott is not mediocre. ‘Forget the descriptions and the envy — this boy is a top-class player.’ Likening the abuse of Brown with that aimed at Luis Suarez in his Liverpool days, Rodgers added: ‘Because he chooses to stay with Celtic shouldn’t dilute his qualities. His awareness, his reading of the game, his appreciation of the game and his passing are special. ‘Of course he has a personality that winds people up but I had the same with Luis Suarez. Every ground you went to it was a carnival to get at him, but he would always perform. ‘Browny is one of those players. If he plays for you, you love him and adore him. If he doesn’t, you think he’s a pantomime character. ‘Listen, he is no saint himself. He has that mentality where he gives it out — fairly in my opinion. He is very aggressive, but that’s what you want — that’s what the best players are. ‘You can see it sometimes where it’s a fraction mistimed in the challenge. You get that. ‘But when it’s to that level (the Davies challenge) and everyone can see it to the point where you actually don’t want to look at it again. ‘That shouldn’t be on a football field. ‘Maybe in the 1980s you could get away with all that. But now football is competitive and needs to be controlled.’ Amid suggestions Davies is unlikely to be charged with excessive misconduct by the SFA and will miss just two games, Rodgers said he was concerned by the message that will send out. ‘You want players to play and be competitive, but there has to be a point for the authorities to look at it and know that’s not right,’ he insisted. ‘That’s the only way you can govern the game — by being really strong on this type of challenge. ‘If not, you dilute the quality and standard and perception of the league. And there is no deterrent either. Let’s ensure there is a standard set — in everything — and make the game up here the very best it can be. ‘My concern is the protection of players, whether it’s Scott Brown or whoever — they have a right to go on the field and be protected.’ Meanwhile, goalkeeper Craig Gordon will make his first-team comeback weeks earlier than expected against Dundee tonight. On-loan Scott Bain is ineligible to face his parent club in the rearranged Premiership clash, clearing the way for Gordon to defy concerns his latest knee injury was potentially season-ending. Confirming Gordon is back in time for the title run-in and the Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers, Rodgers said: ‘Craig is fine and should be available for tomorrow. ‘He’s back before his target date and he’s worked very hard, looked good in training and we’ll just make sure there are no after-effects. ‘Obviously, Scott can’t play tomorrow so, if all is well with Craig, then he will start.’