Broony was a moany old grouch to me from day one .. I had to slag him off for being a bully
SAYS JOHN McGINN
The first time they met, though, the Celtic captain was more baseball bat than yardstick.
The Hibs midfielder will go toe-to-toe with his Scotland skipper this afternoon at Easter Road, insisting the challenge of rising to the occasion against the best in the country brings out best in him.
But he had to be on his toes as an 18-year-old rookie at St Mirren, in just his fifth start, when Brown announced to the entire park he was coming after the teenage talent.
McGinn recalled: “It was funny. It was my first time on the park with him.
“I was up against Adam Matthews down the right and was having some joy.
“Scott didn’t like it so came across to try to sort me out.
“He was shouting ‘Leave him on it, he’s mine!’ I was just looking at him! And he did get me a couple of times. I’ve reminded him of that day when we’ve been away on Scotland duty and told him he was a bully! But Celtic won that game 2- 0.
“He has a bit of banter with you but you have to try to let it pass you by. You can’t get distracted by him.
“It doesn’t take away from the quality of player he is.
“I will focus on my game and try to prevent him from making Celtic tick.
“That’s why he has achieved so much – it’s like he has a switch. Before games he is focused but off the park he’s a bubbly person, full of energy and life.
“As soon as you go on the park you’re not his friend. That’s why he has won so many medals.
“He treats every player the same and credit to him for that – but if I can wind him up and put him off his game, I’ll do it.
“Is it possible? Nah! If you try it then I think it just winds him up and makes him better.
“I have not really tried. Usually I just leave him alone.
“I just concentrate on my game and let him shout at everyone else.”
Not that Brown will be McGinn’s only concern as Hibs chase the win over the champions which has eluded them and every other domestic team for 67 games.
Fel low internationals Cal lum McGregor and Stuart Armstrong will be in the mixer with Brown but McGinn insists he won’t be overwhelmed. His stunning performance, and two goals, in their 2-2 draw in September is evidence enough of that.
He said: “I’ve done all right so far. The semi-final was quiet for me but overall I competed quite well.
“I am aware how good they are but the better the opposition, the better I play.
“Hopefully, I can prove that again. It won’t be easy but hopefully I can play my normal game. I feel as if I come into my own in big games. They get me going and I am looking forward to it.
“Celtic are winning medals and delivering every week – so they are the benchmark. I’ve been doing a lot better this season and been more consistent.
“In the past couple of seasons people could maybe say I wasn’t consistent enough – but I’m definitely improving in that regard.”
It’s a journey shared by Hibs en route to the top four prompted by McGinn in midfield and his new flat-mate Dylan
McGeouch. Johnh said:id “Dylan is high maintenance at the flat, a bit OCD, but he’s a top player and it is good to see him fit again. “My best games this season have been when Dylan has been playing. “He’ll come and take the ball from the centre-half, puts his foot on it and make us tick. “And it lets me play with more energy, a bit higher up the park. “With Marvin Bartley doing well to break play up, the three of us make a good midfield and we complement each other really well.” Those three played in September when Celtic needed a McGregor goal 10 minutes from time to dig out a point and keep their undefeated run going when it looked at its most vulnerable. McGinn said: “Every team that plays CCelticli now want to bbe theh sideid whoh takes the record from them – but that’s a credit to them.
“You hear things from down south and people dissing it, saying it is not a good achievement because it’s in Scotland.
“But we know from playing in the Championship how difficult it is when you are the big team and everyone wants to take points off you.
“I wasn’t thinking about it when we were 2-1 up last time we played. I was concentrating on winning. It wasn’t until after that you think ‘ That could have been us to break it’.
“But Celtic have that in abundance – top-quality players who can come off the bench. We were under siege a bit but we deserved at least a point that day.
“Ultimately, we’re just looking at getting three points and hopefully getting up to second in the table.”