Broonie still leads from the front for Celtic and starting him against Dons is a no-brainer
Hartley insists Hoops skipper Scott is always right man for big occasion
Whether to start Scott Brown or not in a big game for Celtic hasn’t exactly been a dilemma for most Hoops gaffers.
But these aren’t normal times.
Today at Hampden, Neil Lennon has a decision to make about his skipper.
Brown has already been left out of Celtic’s line-up twice in the Premiership this season, including last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Aberdeen.
He was back for their Europa League tie away to French cracks Lille in midweek.
It remains to be seen if the 35-year-old will be wearing the armband for this afternoon’s Scottish Cup semi- f inal against the Dons.
Some supporters would leave him out, believing his influence on Lennon’s team is waning. Others believe Brown is a stalwart of this Celtic team, a born leader who must play in every big game.
Paul Hartley played alongside Brown for club and country and is adamant that Lennon’s mind should be made up.
The former Celtic stalwart says it’s a no-brainer – Brown should play whenever he can. Ex- Celtic and Aberdeen ace Hartley said: “Scott would be in my team.
“He’s captain and the leader for Celtic. He’s been there, seen it, done it.
“People made a big deal out of him not starting at Pittodrie last week but you can’t be in the team all the time when you get to the stage he’s at in his career.
“Scott played against Rangers and Milan so to go in against Aberdeen in the same week wouldn’t have been easy.
“I always found it tough after a European game to play on a Sunday and sometimes you need taken out for a rest.
“How does it feel at that age? Murder! But you are experienced enough to know that sometimes the manager has to make a tough decision.
“There are times when you actually feel good about it. Even though you want to play in every game, you just can’t. Neil looked at two big games for Scott and took him out for the third to look after his body.
“When you get a good result,esult, it’s easier to play. You can get yourselfself going but if you haven’t played wellll or get a few bad results, it’s not as easy. sy.
“But Scott knows his bodydy better than anyone. He’ll know when he can perform.
“And he’s still a top player,ayer, he’s a great leader and he’s beenn like that for a decade.”
If Brown does start he’ll e’ll come up against Lewis is Ferguson, a playerr who Hartley believes has as the same traits as s the Celts captain.
The C o v e Rangers boss is a huge admirer of the 21- yearold, who has been n superb for Aberdeen en so far this term. He sees a bit of Brown in Ferguson and claims the Dons ace can be as good as dad Derek or uncle Barry, who both starred for Rangers and Scotland. Hartley even suggested that Celtic could do worse than look at Ferguson as a long-term replacement for Brown in the Hoops engine room.
He said: “Lewis has a good mentality and is now adding goals to his game. “He’s good under pressure, we saw that when he stuck away the penalty in the last minute against Celtic. It looks like he’s getting better all the time but he had a good grounding at Hamilton.
“Lewis is turning into a top player and I wouldn’t rule out him getting into the Scotland set up in the next few years. “He’sHes good enoughe and he reminds me ofo Scott a little bit. He can mix it up.
“He’s not scscared and is a tough cookiecookie. He relishes a batt le whoeverwhoe he’s up against. NothNothing fazes him. “LewisLew is captain materialmater and a good professional,profe which comescom from his dad and uncle.
“He k nows football . AlthoughA he’s a quietqu lad, when he’sh on the pitch youyo know he’s there. The Ferguson name doesn’t seem to be a burden for him and he could end up just as good as Derek and Barry.
“They’ll tell him the pitfalls but he looks like he wants it and he’s working under a good manager in Derek.
“He has all the tools to be a top player and will obviously have a lot of admirers.
“One day someone will need to replace Brown. I’m not saying Celtic should come and sign him.
“But what I am saying is that he’s as good as anyone else in the top flight right now.”
Celtic are the team under pressure going into the semi-final, with gaffer Lennon feeling the heat.
Hartley knows at the Old Firm you’re only ever one game away from a disaster but he’s backed Lennon to come through it. He said: “The year we won the league for Celtic at Tannadice, we’d had some sticky results along the way.
“With eight games to go, we lost 1- 0 to Motherwell at Celtic Park and there was a lot of noise. You have to deal with it.
“You have to be ready for criticism. If you’re not winning games, it happens.
“Lose one game, you get flak. Two is a crisis and three is a massive crisis.
“Neil has been there before and will ride out this storm. He’s not stupid.
“He wi l l def initely be thinking about things. Neil knows the score and everything that comes with managing Celtic.”
Hartley was speaking at an event organised by William Hill, proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.