Why Scott Brown is Mr Dependable

Sports Writer

Sunday 27 January 2013

PREMIERSHIP sides might be preparing big money bids for the likes of Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama as the last week of the transfer window commences, but the most valuable player award at Celtic this season might just go to someone else entirely.

Celtic midfielder and captain Scott Brown surges forward during a game against Dundee United at Celtic Park Photograph: SNS

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Stewart Fisher

Thanks in part to his ongoing hip problem, Scott Brown's future has been speculation-free this January, but when it comes to pushing himself through the pain barrier and setting a tone for Neil Lennon's dressing room no-one can hold a candle to the contribution of the 27-year-old Celtic skipper.

The Northern Irishman said last night that a testimonial at the club is a realistic goal for the Fifer who has come of age in recent years and more than justified the outlandish £4.4m transfer fee he commanded when he arrived from Hibs in 2007. "Scott is pretty settled here," said Lennon. "If he could he would end his career here. He's been here a while and he's on a long-term contract which would see him up to eight or nine years and he may look at a testimonial to stay on after that. "He's happy and his family is settled. He's really matured over the past two years to become a top class footballer and we also admire him as a man. He's gone from being the classroom rascal into your straight A student." Brown has earned a creditable four bookings in 27 appearances this season, but his contribution to the team is more than just statistics. The night before the victory against Spartak Moscow, for instance, Lennon was so convinced he would be unable to play that he had to re-shape his line-up. "You look at his discipline on the pitch and it is excellent," said Lennon. "There are no more silly bookings. He takes the team by the scruff of the neck and has been a real driving force for us. Off the field, he does a lot of things behind closed doors that really ingratiates himself to people around the club. "He's not quite at my level of moaning yet, but he doesn't suffer any nonsense," the manager added. "If he feels there is a drop in standards from any individual he is not shy in letting them know. It only takes a quick word from Scott to nip it and they take it on board. In terms of my relationship with the players, he's been a really important middle man. He doesn't dictate the dressing-room, but if we have any issues to deal with then he's my first port of call and normally he can resolve it. "We all talk about his football ability now and that's the most important thing. We can see why the club invested such a lot of money in him in the first place. The transfer fee was money well spent. He's helped us win championships and get to the Champions League and to the last 16. "There was a lot of interest in him last season. Maybe they [English Premier clubs] are looking at this hip condition he has now and it's put them off a little bit. If and when he gets that rectified completely, I'm sure he might be on the radar of some clubs again." The Brown situation is a source of stability for the club, but the last four days of January do promise to be a wellspring of uncertainty in the East End of Glasgow. Few players on the Celtic payroll are closer to Gary Hooper than Kris Commons, but the Scotland winger feels the striker's ability to put his future to the back of his mind reflects great credit on him. "The final week of the transfer window can be a bit of whirlwind for a player," said Commons. "It's a weird time for Gary, but how he's been performing for Celtic with all that going on is great credit to him. In the long run, I think Gary wants to stay, but every player has his price tag, I guess." The upheaval at this time of year can be even harder for a player to acclimatise to when you are thrust into a national semi-final within hours of arriving at your new club. As Celtic prepare to take on St Mirren today, Commons reflected on exactly such a scenario in January 2011, when he inspired the Parkhead side to a resounding victory against Aberdeen at Hampden a day after his introduction. "It was weird because I did the first training session on the Friday before the game," said Commons, who is keen to keep his Scotland position under new boss Gordon Strachan. "I didn't really know the guys. I probably knew the manager more than the players so it was strange. But I got off to a good start, scored an early goal and contributed in the set- pieces that got Charlie Mulgrew and Thomas Rogne their goals. It was a good start to my Celtic career."

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Why Scott Brown is Mr Dependable

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