Watching Celtic title run-in from bench has sorted me out, vows Scott Brown

Oct 5 2008 By Gavin Berry

CELTIC star Scott Brown last night revealed that the pain of losing his place in the team for last season's thrilling title climax has forced him to clean up his act.

The midfielder was suspended towards the end of the campaign and failed to win back his place as the Hoops dramatically overturned Rangers' lead in the run-in.

Watching the action from the bench in those incredible final stages - plus some criticism in the media - has prompted Brown to change his no-nonsense style.

He was shown 14 yellow cards for club and country last season but has only picked up two bookings so far this term.

And the 23-year-old said: "I'm a changed man. Everyone was caning me in the media so I had to change.

"It's about timing tackles and learning from the mistakes I made last season. I got suspended after a booking against Gretna and ended up on the bench for the final five games.

"It was disappointing but players like Barry Robson and Paul Hartley were doing incredibly well.

"If I hadn't been booked against Gretna maybe I would have played until the end of the season."

Brown has already had to change his game since his Hibs days when he was given licence to get forward.

The midfielder claims he has learned to be more disciplined and points to team-mate Hartley (below) as his inspiration.

He said: "When I played with Hibs they used a 4-3-3 and I got a free role to roam about.

"But when I came to Celtic we played 4-4-2 and I had to be more disciplined because two wider guys were bombing up and down.

"If I go forward as well it doesn't leave the team much protection at the back and if I'm playing alongside Paul he's left on his own.

"Paul has needed to adapt as well. I remember one season at Hearts he scored 19 goals but he has changed his game at Celtic and been fine.

"Seeing how Paul has changed his game can only help. Instead of bombing forward he's looking at runners coming on to him and tracking them. I've seen that in his game and I'm trying to help him out.

"He doesn't sit me down and give advice - that's the gaffer's job - but I can learn from watching Paul.

"I don't miss the freedom of the role I had at Hibs. I've come to Celtic and won the league.

"I will cherish my CIS Cup win at Easter Road but playing for Celtic is what I've always wanted.

"I was still a team player at Hibs but we had a young squad and I got more of a licence to go forward because we had so much energy.

"At Celtic we have energy all over the park. The lads are so fit it's frightening - Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney will run all day and Shunsuke Nakamura is really fit.

"Then there's Paul and myself in the middle as well as Massimo Donati and Barry. We have some of the fittest midfielders in Scotland."

Another player Brown learned from was Villarreal star Marcos Senna whose free-kick handed Celtic a Champions League defeat in midweek.

He said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard he was 32. Senna ran around like he was a lot younger. He was composed and saw a lot of things other players don't see."