Brendan hail, hails Captain Fantastic
BRENDAN RODGERS hailed Scott Brown as “the complete footballer” after he inspired Celtic to victory over Dundee.
Less than 72 hours after he terrified Manchester City’s multimillion-pound midfield Brown was on top form again, starting and finishing the move that won his side three points at Dens Park.
The Celtic boss revealed his captain’s ability, fitness and versatility had taken even him by surprise.
“If you are looking for a midfielder, he has everything you would want,” said Rodgers.
“He is a better player than I thought before I came here.
“I always saw him as one who could run. Sometimes players get labelled with something and, if they are told it often enough, then they think they just run.
“I think he has a wonderful touch and he has a wonderful awareness. He can play short, he can play long and he has a calmness in his finish.
“I don’t know what he was like before, but I see a player who is really, really high in confidence and playing at the very top of his game – and I think he will get better.”
Brown’s rise to peak form has coincided with his retiral from international football.
For Scotland, with a crucial double-header against Lithuania and Slovakia impending, the timing could scarcely be more painful.
But Rodgers insisted he was happy to be the beneficiary of his captain’s decision to pull the plug on his time with the national team.
“It’s great for me and it’s sad for Scotland,” said the Celtic boss.
“I watched Scott on Wednesday night. This is a guy who’s playing against some of the top midfielders in the world, against one of the top teams in Europe, and he dominated the midfield.
“He’s highly-gifted technically, tactically he has really impressed me, physically you can see he’s super-strong and super-fit, and he’s a tough guy, mentally.
“He deserves all the credit he gets. He’s a wonderful captain.”