ON Friday afternoon Scott Brown talked the talk.

On Saturday he duly walked the walk. In the build-up to the match against Georgia at Ibrox, Brown had spoken passionately and honestly about Scotland's prospects of qualifying for the next European Championship. This, he felt, was the strongest squad he had ever been a part of, and with the finals in France being extended to 24 nations from 16, opportunity knocked loudly for Scotland to end an absence from international competitions that will have stretched to 18 years by the time Euro 2016 comes around. With Brown also aware that time was marching on from a personal perspective - he will be 31 in 2016, 33 by the next World Cup - the message from the midfielder was clear; there will rarely be a better opportunity to seize the moment.

"It definitely bothers me [not having played at a major finals]," he said in his pre-match media address. "I don't want to look back over my career and be saying 'If I had only done this, if I'd only done that…'."

Around 27 or so hours on, and Brown was converting those words into action. And how. Handed the captain's armband once more with Darren Fletcher left on the substitutes bench, Brown demonstrated how important he has become to Gordon Strachan and his team. Notionally part of a two-man protective midfield wall in front of the Scotland defence, the Celtic captain was everywhere at Ibrox during a tour de force performance. He is clearly not a man intent on harbouring regrets when he finally hangs up his boots.

What he sometimes lacks in finesse - his passing, particularly over long distances, can be quite erratic - he more than makes up for with endless drive and energy. It was almost as if he has made it his own personal mission to drag Scotland to Euro 2016, no matter what it takes. His ability to break up Georgian possession then quickly recycle it, make last-gasp tackles in his own box, offer an additional attacking threat at the other end - a first-half shot was deflected just wide of goal - and generally lift his team-mates to greater things through his words and deeds were at the heart of a Scotland victory that ought to have been far more comfortable than the solitary goal that ultimately separated the sides. On Friday Strachan had been coy about the team and who would captain it, perhaps out of respect to Fletcher. In hindsight, however, there was little prospect of Brown not returning as skipper after missing the opening group match in Germany due to injury. He has become the fulcrum in Strachan's side, his on-field lieutenant, and the man who effectively dictates the tempo of the Scotland play. He will be a vital figure for the remainder of the campaign, including what now looks an increasingly significant match in Poland tomorrow, so must therefore ensure he remains available for selection. His pumped-up eagerness can sometimes be misdirected - he committed three fouls on Saturday but was not booked - while he can also be drawn needlessly into personal battles that distract him from the task in hand. A fit and focused Brown is what Strachan needs now more than anything.

Brown likes to portray himself as just a daft laddie from Fife but the respect he has earned from his team-mates demonstrates that he is clearly much more than that. "Scott was terrific - he's been around the block for a long time now and doesn't need me to tell him how good he is," said James Morrison, Brown's midfield partner. "He has a different role from me - but we have been around squads now for a few years and we have worked tirelessly in training to build this understanding.

"I think the Georgia game is the best we've played since I've been involved. We worked ever so hard and passed the ball crisply every time we pressed. It's hard work that has got us where we are today."

Georgia were a limited side with little attacking thrust but the work Brown did in snuffing out at source any of their rare forays forward did not go unappreciated by those playing behind him. "Broonie was brilliant, absolutely superb," said Russell Martin, the Norwich City defender. "He would cruise it down in the English Premier League. I always knew he was a good player but I didn't know how good. People may say he should always be doing it for Celtic but even in Champions League games he's fantastic.

"He's a great character, you all see that. He's larger than life and could play anywhere. I remember Harry Redknapp saying Scott Brown was a guy who could easily play in the English Premier League. It's totally true - he definitely could."

That he was chosen as the man of the match, to appreciative roars from the Ibrox crowd, was not disputed by any of his team-mates. "You know what you're getting with Broonie - his work rate is second to none," said Grant Hanley, the Blackburn Rovers defender. "I thought he was outstanding against Georgia and he deserved his award."