Neil Lennon raves about Celtic’s Scott Brown

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Celtic face Hibernian at Easter Road this weekend.

Neil Lennon has told Sky Sports that Celtic captain Scott Brown is a much better footballer than he is often given credit for.

The Celtic midfielder has won 14 major titles during his 10-year stint at Parkhead following a £4.4 million move from Hibernian.

Brown has a reputation as a no-nonsense, tough-tackling combative player, but Lennon, who played against the 32-year-old and managed him in Glasgow, says that he’s quite tidy with the ball too.

The Hibs boss, who welcomes Brendan Rodgers’s all-conquering side to Easter Road on Sunday, told Sky Sports: “His football is a lot better than maybe what outsiders might think and he handles the ball very well under pressure.

“What he does have is great leadership qualities which is much-maligned in the modern game.

“He’s always had a bit of the rascal in him but he’s really matured into this top all-round midfield player. You are seeing the best of him now again.”

Brown’s ability was called into question by Joey Barton – then at Rangers – in the summer of 2016, but the Hoops icon swiftly rubbished the suggestion that he isn’t a good footballer by impressing in his side’s 5-1 win over the Gers a few months later.

Under Lennon, Hibs have enjoyed an excellent return to Scotland’s top flight and victory over Celtic this weekend would see them move within five points of the high-flying Bhoys.

Considering that the Leith side were a Championship club this time last season, it illustrates how well the Northern Irishman – who managed a 2-2 draw at Parkhead earlier this season – has done in Edinburgh.