Source: Team_Talk
Brown grateful for Strachan support
Celtic midfielder Brown was crowned PFA Scotland Player of the Year on Sunday, less than 12 months since younger sister Fiona lost her battle with skin cancer.
Brown, 23, kept the illness a secret even from his own team-mates, continuing to pull on a Hoops jersey despite going through agony in his personal life.
Fiona, who was only 21 when she died, was first diagnosed at around the time Brown completed his £4.4million move from Hibernian to Celtic.
The player's form understandably suffered as a result and he was unwittingly branded a big-money flop.
But manager Strachan stuck by him and Brown has gone on to repay that faith this season with a succession of dynamic displays which have helped Celtic to the top of the Scottish Premier League and Co-operative Insurance Cup glory.
Brown said of Strachan, who last night claimed the Manager of the Year prize: "The first season, I didn't have the best season.
"But he knew stuff that was going on and he helped me through that, and he's been great with me since then."
Brown was delighted to win the approval of his peers at Sunday's awards dinner in Glasgow, saying: "It means a great deal.
"I was at the PFA awards last night and we were seeing the last 25 years of who's won.
"There's some great names there: you've got Larsson, you've got Laudrup, you've got Gazza.
"It's great to be among those people as well."
He added: "I think I've been playing well; you can always play better and you always want to play better, so I always strive to do better."
Asked where he felt he could improve his game, Brown said: "A few more goals here and there.
"I've got seven this year and I think if I hit double-figures, I'll be pleased."
Brown denied suggestions his disciplinary record might also need addressing, despite currently serving a two-match ban that will see him miss Saturday's final Old Firm derby of the season.
"I think I've not picked up so many stupid yellow cards," said Brown, who has only been booked six times in the SPL this season but is paying the price for his chequered record last term.
"Everyone's going to get booked, especially in the position I play, and I think six bookings for a two-match ban is quite harsh myself."
He added: "I'm gutted to be missing out on the Old Firm game.
"I'll be going along, I'll be supporting the lads, and I'll be in the changing room before the game."
Brown insists Celtic can win at Ibrox without him after watching them shrug off his absence to take all three points at Aberdeen on Saturday.
"I saw it on TV and the lads didn't really need me, to be fair!" joked Brown, who revealed he is one of those players who hates watching his own team in action.
"They're scoring goals away from home and winning games, so that's the main thing."
Saturday's match is being billed as a title decider but Brown insists Celtic will not have a fourth straight championship in the bag if they emerge victorious.
"Not if they win that game, no," said Brown, whose side are a point clear of their arch-rivals.
"We've got another three games after that, so we're just concentrating on one game at a time.
"If we go and beat Rangers, we'll be delighted. And if not, we've got another three games to go."
