JOHN McGinn’s first encounter with “bully” Scott Brown was a memorable one as the Celtic captain singled him out for special treatment.

Five years on and now a battle-hardened Scotland internationalist, McGinn is determined to get the better of his tormentor and, in doing so, end the champions’ historic 67-match domestic unbeaten run.

The former St Mirren kid was a fresh-faced teenager making just his sixth senior appearance for the Buddies when he got the nod to start at Celtic Park in December 2012 and, in a manner which has gone on to characterise his career, he showed

no fear, tormenting Adam Matthews on the flank.

McGinn’s magic did not go unnoticed by Brown, who took it upon himself to shut down one of the visitors’ main attacking threats, helping to secure a 2-0 victory for Celtic.

“He is quite funny and always has a bit of banter,” McGinn said. “You have to try to let that pass you by. I remember my first game against him, when I was at St Mirren, he was shouting ‘leave him on it, he’s mine’ loud enough for me to hear. I was just looking at him.

“He got me a couple of times. I was up against Adam Matthews down the right-hand side and I was having a bit of joy. He didn’t like that at all, so he came across to try to sort me out. I have reminded him of it a few times when we’ve been away with Scotland and told him he’s a bully!

“I know his game well now but that doesn’t take away from the quality of player he is. He is a good player and you can’t let yourself get distracted by him. I will try to focus on my game and try to prevent him from making Celtic tick, which is what he has

been doing.”

Brown surpassed Kenny Dalglish’s record as the Scotsman with the most appearances in the European Cup last week, with his outing in Tuesday evening’s 1-0 defeat against Anderlecht, his 69th game in the competition.

“It’s like he has a switch,” McGinn said. “Off the park he is a bubbly person, full of energy and life. As soon as you go on the park, though, you are not his friend and that is the way it has got to be, that is why he has achieved so much in his career and why he has won so many medals.”

However, McGinn, seen by many as the natural successor to Brown as a combative presence in the Scotland midfield, is unlikely to resort to sledging.

“If you try it I think it just winds him up and makes him better,” he smiled. “I usually just leave him alone because he makes my afternoon worse. I just try to concentrate on my game and let him shout at everyone else.”

Indeed, McGinn let his football do the talking when the sides last met on Premiership duty, scoring twice in a dazzling display in Glasgow as Hibs claimed a 2-2 draw. A late Callum McGregor equaliser was required to salvage Celtic’s storied unbeaten run.

“It was not until after the game that you think ‘that could have been us to break it’,” the midfielder added. “But Celtic have that in abundance – players who can come off the bench, who are top quality, and we were under siege a bit.

“I think every team that play Celtic now want to be the ones who take the record from them. You hear things from down south, people dissing it, and saying it is not a good achievement because it is in Scotland. But we know, from playing in the Championship, how difficult it is when you are the big team and everyone wants to come and take points off you. So full credit to Celtic.

“They have a good squad and they rotate it well and we know we have to be at our best if we want to get a result. Hopefully, we can capitalise on Celtic playing midweek and get a result at Easter Road.”