‘He’s my go-to man’ - Scott Brown anoints next Celtic captain

Callum McGregor tipped to inherit armband from veteran midfielder
Callum McGregor, left, has the qualities to succeed Scott Brown as Celtic captain, according to the latter. Picture: Alan Harvey / SNSCallum McGregor, left, has the qualities to succeed Scott Brown as Celtic captain, according to the latter. Picture: Alan Harvey / SNS
Callum McGregor, left, has the qualities to succeed Scott Brown as Celtic captain, according to the latter. Picture: Alan Harvey / SNS

Scott Brown has hailed the leadership qualities of Callum McGregor and believes he will ‘easily’ fall into the role of succeeding him as Celtic captain.

Brown, who will be 35 in a fortnight, is going into the final season of his contract with the Scottish champions as they pursue a record-breaking tenth consecutive league title.

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He has been as influential and effective as ever for Celtic in recent times and appears capable of extending his playing career even further than the duration of his current deal. But when the time comes for Brown to hand over the armband, he has no doubt that his midfield colleague McGregor will be able to handle the responsibilities which come with it.

“When you look inside a dressing room, you know that people will follow someone like Callum because he is a top-quality player with drive and belief,” said Brown.

“I give him the respect that he deserves because he goes in and he speaks to all of the lads. He’s always got time and he’s a proper professional as well. When we were dealing with stuff when this [Covid closure of football] all began to happen, he was my go-to man. He came up with a lot of things and has helped me out with a lot of the lads as well.

“It’s the mark of a captain that he can easily fall into that role. In the last year and a half, I’d say, he’s got that proper willingness, drive and self-belief. When he talks before games now, all of the lads listen, which is brilliant.

“Maybe three or four years ago, Cal might have said something and it might not have had the same effect. He maybe wouldn’t have felt himself that he could or should be saying it. But now everyone knows what Callum has done in the game and they listen. He’s a top-quality player who speaks very well at the same time. They have put that trust in him as well.

“When he has been captain for games when I wasn’t playing, I have been in the dressing room and he speaks well.

“I know he’s the vice-captain now, but it’s me and him who speak before the games as we chat away and relax. The lads will always listen to both of us, but he speaks out so well and it’s those important things that he says. The thing is, he’s only going to get better because he is still young.”

McGregor will celebrate his 27th birthday on Sunday and has expressed his commitment to Celtic despite ongoing interest from English Premier League clubs, including his former manager Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.

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Current Celtic boss Neil Lennon, pictured, who loaned McGregor out to Notts County during his first spell in charge of the club, is now a fully paid-up member of the Scotland international’s fan club.

“The gaffer has put a lot of trust into Callum [since he came back],” added Brown. “He had him when he was here to start with, when he was in and around the first team training and then out on loan.

“He understands what a top-quality player he is because he has everything in his locker. Callum has that turn of pace to go past someone, he can drive forward, he’s aware and has the ability to find team-mates with passes and he can pop up with huge goals for us at the same time.

“You can look at him as being the driving force in the middle of the park for us, going from Brendan’s time onto Neil’s time now.

“Callum has also got that composure as well and he dictates the pace of the game. He’s always on show to take the ball and he rarely gives it away, which is a great trait to have. He’s the first name onto the team sheet because he brings so much to the side.”

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