Terry Butcher: Scott Brown is good enough to play for top Premier League club
Terry Butcher is adamant that Scotland skipper Scott Brown is good enough to play for a top club in the Premier League.
Former England midfielder Paul Scholes began a debate about the abilities of the 31-year-old Celtic captain ahead of the Three Lions' visit to Hampden Park in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
He said: "Scott has had a fantastic career with Celtic. But could he have done the same with a big club down in England? I'm not sure he'd have had the same influence."
However, former England captain Butcher has no doubts that Brown, who came out of a short international retirement last year, could hold his own with the best midfielders in the English top flight.
He said: "I think he could. He is an enforcer but also a passer of the ball and if he is given a specific role he has the ability, physically and mentally to cope with that and I think he could still do it now.
"If you look at players in his position in the top-four sides, the top-six sides - you are now looking at the top six or seven in England rather than the top four - he could handle it quite comfortably.
"You have Eric Dier of Spurs in the (England) midfield, that is going to be a great battle (on Saturday).
"I don't know who else is going to battle against Scott Brown, he will take two players on no problem. He will love it.
"Scott Brown will make sure that every player plays his very best.
"People will say Scott Brown has to combat Dele Alli and all that sort of thing but who is going to stop Scott Brown? Eric Dier possibly, I don't know who else is going to be in there.
"I am gutted that he didn't retire completely and is out of it. I am pleased for Scotland because he is an inspiration, a leader.
"He said last year he felt drained and you can see that difference this season."
Former Ipswich and Rangers defender Butcher made favourable comparisons between Brown and Scholes, who is recognised as one of the finest midfielders England has produced.
Speaking in a Glasgow hotel where he was helping to publicise the Group F qualifier - while promoting gambling firm Mobilebet's free offer bet - Butcher was in a jovial mood.
He said: "It wouldn't be a battle between Paul Scholes and Scott Brown because Paul Scholes couldn't tackle a fish supper sometimes.
"He wasn't renowned for his tackling. He was renowned for his ability on the ball, his passing, his scoring and everything else.
"Scott Brown would win that hands down if it came to a physical battle.
"Paul had the edge in terms of vision, ability and touch. Not much. Scott Brown could handle the Premier League no problem at all.
"People think he goes about like a headless chicken and all this sort of thing but he doesn't.
"He is very clever, very strong, he is the fulcrum in the midfield - I wish he wasn't playing."