Butcher warns that classy Brown will be a threat
Terry Butcher is adamant that Scotland skipper Scott Brown is good enough to play for a top club in the Premier League.
Former England midfielder Paul Scholes began a debate about the abilities of the 31-year-old Celtic captain ahead of the Three Lions’ visit to Hampden Park in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
He said: “Scott has had a fantastic career with Celtic. But could he have done the same with a big club down in England? I’m not sure he’d have had the same influence.”
However, former England captain and Sunderland player-manager Butcher has no doubts that Brown, who came out of a short international retirement last year, could hold his own with the best midfielders in the English top flight.
He said: “I think he could. He is an enforcer but also a passer of the ball and if he is given a specific role he has the ability, physically and mentally to cope with that and I think he could still do it now.
“If you look at players in his position in the top-four sides, the top-six sides - you are now looking at the top six or seven in England rather than the top four - he could handle it quite comfortably.
“You have Eric Dier of Spurs in the (England) midfield, that is going to be a great battle (on Saturday).
“I don’t know who else is going to battle against Scott Brown, he will take two players on no problem. He will love it.
“People will say Scott Brown has to combat Dele Alli and all that sort of thing but who is going to stop Scott Brown? He is an inspiration, a leader.”