Brown’s past his best .. Celts have been far better without him
Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe not. But Scott Brown’s calf strain and absence in recent weeks has seen a Celtic side transformed from the difficult watch they’d been for most of the season.
The Hoops skipper hasn’t been missed and this isn’t to denigrate a player who has been immense for his club as a leader.
It’s just that the tempo, intensity and all-round midfield dynamic has been on a different level.
Brendan Rodgers knows his side have clicked up a gear, he also bristles at any suggestion that Brown should be regarded as a diminished force. But there’s a truth that his best days are now well behind him.
Energy is the name of the game in Europe, box- to- box ability from midfielders is essential.
The best sides play with an electrifying style of counterattack, there’s no room for ponderous sideways passing with no real purpose.
That’s why Celtic achieved one of their most impressive Europa League results on Thursday, it was all about the cut and thrust against RB Leipzig.
Callum McGregor’s ability to be both deep-lying ball distributor and interceptor, while managing to get up into forward areas, was everything you want from the modern-day midfielder.
None of the top sides operate with the luxury of someone who’s job is to sit in and shift play from side to side. McGregor’s an able deputy but also an improvement on the previous model.
Brown has a battle on his hands to claim back a jersey and that in itself is a huge sign of just how resurgent the champions have been during his spell out.
It all started at St Johnstone, a six-goal drubbing of the Perth side which could and probably should have been double figures and it was all about an urgency to get the ball forward.
Rodgers had wanted his side to continually circulate the ball by changing the angle of attack and it created a slow approach which allowed opponents to reinforce the backline and more importantly enjoy a breather.
No longer. James Forrest’s form has been superb, at last he’s fulfilling the potential which many feared wouldn’t arrive. At times he has been unplayable now that his first touch is forwards rather than backwards.
Scott Sinclair is slowly showing signs of getting back to being the confident wing tormentor who ran amok in his first season in the Premiership.
The energy and running of the likes of Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie was crucial against the Germans this week and both shared the title as top performers.
Tom Rogic, a player with a talent which rises well above anything else on offer within Scottish football, is the jewel in Celtic’s crown.
The Australian’s ability to see things others don’t and execute with class has seen him coveted by bigger clubs both down south and on the continent.
Not even having Olivier Ntcham missing made any negative impact on Celtic’s midfield and the Frenchman has the capabilities to become a genuine Champions League performer.
Brown will once again have to prove the doubters wrong but who’d bet against him?