GREAT SCOTT Great Scot!

Rodgers backs Brown as his captain marvel

BRENDAN RODGERS last night identified Scott Brown as Celtic’s Steven Gerrard and declared the Scotland midfielder will retain the team’s captaincy under his tenure.

The new Parkhead manager, who inherited Gerrard at Liverpool in 2012, sees Brown fulfilling a similar team-leading role for him at Celtic and claimed the 30-year-old — beset by injury problems last season — still has his best years in front of him.

Asked if Brown (below) would remain the skipper as he prepares to remodel Celtic, Rodgers replied: ‘150 per cent.

‘Towards the end of the season, Scott was maybe hit a little bit by injury, but he’s 30 years of age and I think he still has his best years ahead of him.

‘When I went to Liverpool, Steven Gerrard was 32 years of age. Everyone was talking about how his best days had gone, but Steven went on for the next two years and was brilliant for me — a great leader, who nearly went on to pick up the title. His performance level went up again. ‘So I’m really looking forward to working with Scott. I have come across him in some of the friendly games we have played and I’ve always been impressed with him as a player. I’m sure he can be a really big help for me. ‘I remember seeing him as a young player when he played at Hibs and I thought he was a great athlete, very mobile and competitive. Scott is a real warrior — he’s up for every single game.’ Gerrard, 35, is currently earning significant sums of money with MLS side LA Galaxy but, amid reports that he is homesick, the former England midfielder has been linked not only with a return to Anfield, but a possible reunion with his old boss in Glasgow.

Rodgers was keen to play down the chances of Gerrard joining Celtic but would not rule out working with his former onfield general in the future.

He added: ‘Steven was outstanding for me as a captain, so maybe one day. You want to work with the best people and he is certainly one of the best.’