Brown just blown away by Frimpong
SCOTT BROWN has hailed Jeremie Frimpong’s impact at Celtic as the most impressive witnessed at the club since the early days of Kieran Tierney. Signed for an initial fee of £350,000 from Manchester City in the summer, the 19-year-old has bulldozed his way into Neil Lennon’s side — with the Celtic manager admitting at the weekend that the Dutchman’s talent was the equal of any young player he had worked with. Predicting that the full-back’s
valuation is set to soar in the coming years, skipper Brown believes Frimpong’s displays to date are on a par with the initial contributions of Tierney — a player who eventually made the club a record £25million by moving to Arsenal. ‘I don’t think there’s been anyone apart from him and Kieran who’ve broken into the team at that age and done that well in such a short amount of time,’ said Brown. ‘Every game he’s played, he’s been man of the match. You look around the park and just think he’s going to get man of the match no matter what. ‘He’s got the same attitude week in, week out. He’s willing to do the yards and is up and down the field for 90 minutes. ‘He’ll be worth serious money in a few years. ‘The main aim for us is to keep improving him as well to make sure he understands what it’s like playing in a three or a four, whether he’s playing full-back or wing-back. ‘He’s brilliant because he’s willing to learn and adapt too.’ Lennon’s side face Hearts at Tynecastle tonight knowing a victory will put them five points clear of Rangers, having played a game more. Defeated by St Johnstone in their first game under Daniel
Stendel, the Gorgie side are presently in the play-off place, with only goal difference keeping them above bottom side Hamilton. Mindful of the fact his side have lost at Tynecastle in each of the past two seasons, Brown added: ‘With the run we’re on now, everyone wants to beat us. ‘Hearts did it when they beat us 4-0 under Craig Levein (in December 2017). They played fantastic that day, while we didn’t turn up. That day, we just weren’t at the races.’ Asked about the possible significance of going five points clear, Brown said: ‘The main thing for us is to win the game and not think about that.’