Strachan praises Brown ahead of 50th cap

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has hailed Scott Brown as a role model as the captain prepares to win his 50th cap.

The 30-year-old will skipper Scotland in their Hampden friendly against Denmark on Tuesday night, more than a decade after winning his first cap.

Strachan signed Brown from Hibernian while Celtic manager in 2007 and made him his Scotland captain after Darren Fletcher was sidelined by illness.

The Celtic skipper also helps coach his club's under-20s team and Strachan is seeing his influence on players coming through.

Strachan said: "He's been a big part of my career over the last 10 years and he's made my life more enjoyable, that's for sure. More interesting, on many occasions.

"Scottish football would be a duller place without Scott Brown.

"I can see his influence around younger players now, which is terrific. He has not only been a good footballer, but a good help to young players.

"He's good with people, he likes being with people, he makes everybody welcome in here.

"And then he trains to a maximum. Anything he does is to a maximum, no short cuts.

"As (former Leeds manager) Howard Wilkinson used to say to me, the pace of the pack is determined by the leader. He's a leader and so is Darren Fletcher. We are well-led that way."

Brown had a goal disallowed on his debut, in a 1-1 draw with the United States in November 2005.

"I was a bit of a hothead for Hibs at the time," Brown said. "Now I'm a hothead at Celtic. So not too much (has changed)."

As Brown joked, his combative nature has remained intact, but he has matured into captain for club and country, something he could not envisage during his formative years as a footballer.

"I didn't," he said. "I don't even think Gordon did probably. But he has put a lot of faith in me and I have lot to thank him for over my career, for signing me, making me the player I am, and understanding the game to make myself a better player since leaving Hibs."

Brown revealed Strachan has been the biggest influence on his development.

"He shapes us different ways to try and get us on the ball and make us a better team than the opponents," Brown said. "He looks into detail about other teams, he understands the game way more than anyone else I have ever worked with."

The midfielder looks set to remain at the heart of the Scotland team for the next World Cup qualifying campaign at least, but there is fresh competition for places in Strachan's set-up.

Five more uncapped players come into the reckoning against Denmark - Kieran Tierney, Jamie Murphy, John McGinn, Oliver Burke and Liam Cooper - after Paul Caddis and Tony Watt made their debuts during the 1-0 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday.

And Brown has welcomed the fresh impetus from the younger talent.

"You realise you don't run about as much as they do," he said. "They have been great.

"You usually think they are going to be shy and sit in the corner but they have done really well in training and in team meetings as well.

"They are loving being here, especially with a manager like Gordon, they are learning a lot throughout the week's training.

"That's what is good about the manager, he is never stuck in his ways, he is always looking to improve, whether it's new faces, a change in formation or looking to change the way we play.

"It's good for them to come in and try to steal our places but it also keeps us on our toes as well."