HAMILTON’S PLASTIC PITCH IS HORRIBLE, SAYS BROWN

CELTIC captain Scott Brown has joined manager Brendan Rodgers in lambasting Scotland’s plastic pitches — and has branded the surface for today’s game at Hamilton ‘horrible’. Rodgers has publicly declared his belief that artificial pitches should be for training work only, arguing that they represent an injury risk in competitive games. Talking about the demands made on the body during a frantic festive fixture list, Brown (left) said: ‘It’s

From Back Page always hard on your calves, always hard on your body. But we push on to Hamilton — and an artificial pitch now. ‘It’s horrible. Horrible. It’s always hard going from grass to astroturf. ‘Hamilton is one of the worst. I don’t mind the Kilmarnock pitch. When it’s wet, you can move the ball and pass it quite well. Then you just have to deal with the stiffness in your body and recover the next day. ‘It always does affect you, playing on the artificial turf. It takes a bit more out of you, because it’s solid underneath. It’s always harder that way. But you have to cope with it.’ Meanwhile, Tom Rogic has been urged to reject any big-money moves into the English Premier League and stay at Celtic by his own national team boss. Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou reckons the 24-year-old can continue to improve in Scottish football. ‘The key for Tommy is that he just keeps progressing,’ he said. ‘He’s happy at Celtic. Celtic are a big club, they play in the Champions League and they’re doing really well in their domestic league. ‘So if that continues and he keeps progressing, we’re in no real hurry for him.’