John Fleck has shone at Sheffield United and former Blades team-mate Stefan Scougall has likened him to the Celtic skipper.
As much as Celtic fans will wish otherwise, Scott Brown cannot go on forever. The long-serving skipper may be in the form of his life right now after being revived by the appointment of Brendan Rodgers but, at 32, the Scottish champions must plan for life without their on-field inspiration.
With Hibs boss Neil Lennon stating that McGinn would be worth more than £5 million in today’s market after he scored two stunning goals in the 2-2 draw with Celtic last week, per the Nottingham Post, The Bhoys may find that the 22-year-old is a little out of their price range.
But could they consider a one-time Rangers wonderkid as a potential alternative? According to St Johnstone striker Stefan Scougall, his former Sheffield United team-mate John Fleck is the ideal replacement for Brown at international level at least.
‘Ticks the boxes’
“Now he’s a natural central midfielder – he gets on the ball, can switch play, drive the team forward. And he can do the dirty side too,” Scougall told the Daily Record of Fleck, who was left out of Gordan Strachan’s Scotland squad despite fine performances for Sheffield United.
“When people are talking about Scott Brown being missing from the Scotland squad, I’d say Flecky ticks more of the boxes to take his place than anyone else.”
Scougall’s comments should be enough to get Celtic thinking. Much was expected of Fleck when he emerged through Rangers’ academy around a decade ago but a player once described as Scotland’s answer to Wayne Rooney has evolved into a deep lying playmaker rather than a rambunctious number ten.
Fleck, then, could be an inspired replacement for Brown. Though any deal would not be greeted by the 26-year-old’s former fans on the other side of Glasgow.
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