Source: Team_Talk
McCarthy good enough for Hoops - Brown
Hamilton boss Billy Reid confirmed on Thursday the Scottish Premier League champions had bid for the precocious 18-year-old, who made his Accies debut one day short of his 16th birthday.
The offer did not meet the Lanarkshire club's valuation and was promptly rejected but it is likely Celtic will return with an improved offer.
Ahead of Sunday's game against Hibernian at Easter Road, Hoops manager Gordon Strachan was reluctant to expand on his interest in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 player, referring his initial bid to chief executive Peter Lawwell.
"Peter is looking after that," Strachan said.
"I'm keen enough to ask Peter to go and try to sign him. That's enough."
However, Brown rates the Hamilton midfielder highly and claims he is ready to make the step up.
He said: "He's a good player, comfortable on the ball and he is young as well.
"I haven't seen him much in other games but, when he has played against us, he has played really well.
"I think he has (the ability to be a first-team regular at Celtic).
"He has proved to a lot of people that he can play in the SPL week-in, week-out and now he will want to prove that at a higher level."
McCarthy, who signed a new three-year contract last summer, recently capped his debut season in the SPL by winning the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.
Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Blackburn, Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich have all been linked with the teenager.
But agent Willie McKay has claimed McCarthy would snub a move to England in order to join Celtic.
