Rodgers hits out at ‘envy’ over his captain

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says parts of Scottish football are racked with envy over his captain Scott Brown.

The combative midfielder was in the news over the weekend after he was subject to a red-card challenge – which Rodgers branded “disgraceful” – by Ross County skipper Andrew Davies in the Hoops’ 3-0 win at Parkhead.

Ahead of tonight’s Ladbrokes Premiership visit of Dundee the Northern Irishman – who revealed goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to return after a knee injury which has kept him out since January – spoke of a wider attitude problem towards Brown in the Scottish game.

“I see it in certain media sectors. I see it in the playing sector. I see managers also.

“Instead of being envious of him, he is a player that needs to be emulated in his qualities.

“What rarely gets talked about is what a really good footballer he is,” Rodgers said.

“Yes, he is one of those characters. I had it with Luis Suarez (at Liverpool). Every ground you went to, Luis always got it. But that only raised his performance level and Scott’s the same.”

There is no suggestion that Davies will be subject to anything other than the regulation two-match ban, which Rodgers finds surprising.

He said: “If the authorities deem that to be violent conduct and not excessive then there is a problem. But that’s for other people to decide.”

Rodgers is pleased to see Gordon back and available.

On-loan keeper Scott Bain, who took over recently from Dorus de Vries, is ineligible against his parent club.

Rodgers said Bain is “definitely” a player that he would like to keep at Celtic Park beyond his loan spell which ends in the summer, when the keeper will become a free agent.

He said: “Hopefully his representative and the club can organise a deal for him to be here.”

Scott Brown should be emulated rather than envied, says Rodgers.