Captain Marvels

Scott Brown is on the cusp of full fitness, but has been impressed by his team-mates’ performances in his absence.

- Joe Donnelly

LOSING any player to injury at such a busy time in the season is far from ideal, but losing your captain could spell catastrophe. This is especially true of someone as determined, influential and authoritative as Scott Brown. At first glance, a Celtic starting XI without the tenacious holding midfielder can look incongruous – but players like Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Ryan Christie have rolled up their sleeves in recent weeks after the skipper picked up a knee injury during the Hoops’ 4-2 win over Hibernian at Paradise in September.

Brown returned to training this week, and, with the most recent run of international games now completed, he linked up again with his travelling team-mates. He’s eyeing a return to full training in the coming days, and while unlikely to feature in Saturday’s game against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park, the captain hopes to travel with the squad to Norway as the Hoops face Rosenborg in the UEFA Europa League next Thursday.

In the captain’s absence, the aforementioned trio of Scotland internationalists have excelled, and Brown is especially pleased to see them carry their domestic form on to the international stage.

“Everyone knows that when James Forrest plays at his best, he plays brilliantly,” said Brown in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “He would always be in my Scotland team, and he’d always be in my Celtic team because of what he brings to the game. Whether you’re struggling as a team for form, or whether you’re on fire, James will take the ball up the park and beat a couple of players and create chances for other people.