Source: Team_Talk
Brown to play supporting role
Newly-crowned PFA Scotland Player of the Year Brown is in the middle of a two-match ban but that will not stop him assuming the mantle of cheerleader for Celtic at Ibrox this weekend.
"I'll be going along, I'll be supporting the lads, and I'll be in the changing room before the game," said the midfield dynamo, who is "gutted" to be missing a game that will have a massive impact on the outcome of the SPL title race.
Brown insists Celtic can beat Rangers 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."
Reacting to his Player of the Year prize, Brown chose to thank manager Gordon Strachan for helping him deal with the tragic death of his little sister and rediscover his love for the game.
Brown was feted by his fellow professionals on Sunday night, less than 12 months since younger sister Fiona lost her brave battle with skin cancer.
The player 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-name flop.
But 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 SPL and to Co-operative Insurance Cup glory.
Brown said of Strachan, who claimed the Manager of the Year prize on Sunday night: "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 the weekend's awards dinner in Glasgow, saying: "It means a great deal.
"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."
