GORD’S LOSS MY GAIN
Brendan Broony’s out of this world
Brendan Rodgers last night hailed match winner Scott Brown as Celtic’s inspiration and insisted he can live with the best in the world.
The Hoops skipper scored the only goal against Dundee yesterday to take the champions into the international break with a four-point cushion at the top.
And after a week that saw Broony go toe-to-toe with Manchester City’s f inest, his manager believes he belongs in that company.
Former Scotland captain Brown will get a breather next weekend after his decision to retire from international football.
Gordon Strachan’s Scotland take on Lithuania and Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier double header and Rodgers said: “It’s great for me and it’s sad for Scotland.
“But I look at Scott on Wednesday night and this is a guy who’s playing against some of the top midfielders in the world, and against one of the
top teams in Europe. Yet he dominated the midfield. He’s highly gifted technically, super-strong, super-fit and tough mentally.
“He deserves all the credit he gets. He’s a wonderful captain for me and a better player than I ever thought.
“From the outside looking in I saw him as a guy who could run. But he can play.
“He has a wonderful touch, a wonderful awareness. He can play short, play long and has a calmness in his finish.
“He could have played in one of the top Premier League teams, no question. He could have trebled the money he gets at Celtic but thankfully for me he’s here.
“Money isn’t what Scott is about. It’s happiness playing for a club that adore him and a support who love him.
“I see a player who is high in confidence and playing at the very top of his game – and I think he will get better.”
Rodgers sees a future for the 31-year-old as a centre-half as the years roll on.
He said: “I do think there are elements of his game that will improve. He could play as a No.2 centre-half or a controlling midfielder. He is a complete footballer.
“If you are looking for a midfielder, he has everything. He’s an inspiration to his team-mates. He started the move then arrived into the box with a great goal.”
Rodgers was delighted with the display at Dens, despite failing to find top gear after their midweek shift against City. He said: “It was a job well done. The only thing missing was a little bit of sharpness in the final third. Yes, the players are tired – they’re not robots. But we have a super level of fitness – if we didn’t, we couldn’t have won.”