Henderson glad to have great guidance from Brown and Thomson

SCOTT BROWN and Kevin Thomson formed a fearsome double act in a stellar Hibernian midfield — then became the best of Old Firm enemies for three seasons. Liam Henderson watched it all play out when attending Easter Road with his granddad and then being attached to the Celtic academy from the age of 12.

Now the young Celtic midfielder, starring for Brendan Rodgers since the turn of the year, is the beneficiary of Brown and Thomson unwittingly teaming up again all these years on.

Henderson is grateful to have the pair on tap for advice as he seeks to take the next, key step in his bid to become a regular performer for Celtic’s first team.

Out on loan in the Championship at Hibernian last season, Henderson roomed with ex-Rangers and Middlesbrough man Thomson and won a Scottish Cup.

Back at Celtic and intent on fighting for his place amid fierce competition this season, the 20-year-old is a travel companion to training for Parkhead skipper Brown.

Henderson (right) said: ‘Last year, I was really fortunate to have Kevin Thomson as my roommate at Hibs. He played for the other team in Glasgow and played in a UEFA Cup final.

‘He was a big influence. He spoke to me about coming back to Celtic. He said it’s a massive club and that I really should stay there. I can pick up the phone and ask him for advice any time I want.

‘I also have Broony here. For those two to hand down their experience at this stage of my career is great. I look to take it all on board. ‘Thommo has been a huge influence. When I was younger, it was him against Broony. As a Hibs fan when I was even younger still, I also watched them play together. They were both top players and if I can take bits and pieces from both of them, that will help me. ‘I travel through to training every day with Broony and meet Thommo for coffee regularly. I try to take as much advice from these guys as possible as I need to make the most of my career.’ A breakthrough teenager under Neil Lennon, he scored as a 17-year-old in March 2014 when Celtic secured the title with a 5-1 victory at Partick Thistle. Among the many lessons learned since that day was managing impatience and never more so than when granted just three starts in 2016 under Rodgers. But Henderson, who also spent a summer on loan at Rosenborg in Norway in 2015, had no intention of seeking another temporary spell away from Celtic in search of more games. ‘This is a Champions League club, so it’s always going to be difficult for a young player to break through and be a mainstay,’ he said. ‘But I feel like I’ve been out on loan and done my apprenticeship. Doing that again never even crossed my mind. Now I have to give it my best shot at being a Celtic player. ‘I spoke to my family, my agent and the manager. He didn’t want me to go anywhere and neither did I. I’m learning every day off him. He’s world-class. ‘Compared to last year, I feel I’m a better player. I’m trying to do what he wants to a high standard.’