Scott Brown has worked under Gordon Strachan before, it was Strachan who brought him to Parkhead from Hibs back in 2007, but the award of the armband as captain is something new for the midfielder. Strachan took Brown aside yesterday and told him he would be leading Scotland out for the first time against Estonia on Wednesday, just moments before the manager and captain's pre-match press conference was due to start. The captaincy is usually the preserve of Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher but as he is absent following surgery to treat a chronic bowel condition, Strachan decided Brown was the man to lead the side on the event of winning his 30th cap.
Brown said: "He just told me that I was captain and walked away and left me to my own wee moment. That was about five minutes ago. He kept it quiet, I was wondering why I was coming downstairs and the only one sitting in reception. He came up and told me and it was a great moment. It''s a huge honour, a thing you dream of when you''re younger, captaining Scotland.I''ve been lucky enough to do it for Celtic for the last couple of seasons and now to get the chance for this game for Scotland is a great honour." Brown is looking forward to playing for the ex-Celtic manager again and went on: "It''s been great, it''s been a good few years but he is the same old gaffer. He enjoys coming into work and he enjoys working with the lads, that''s for sure."
Strachan added: "He already knows what it''s like to be a captain, a captain with pressure, and that made him favourite. He is also in fine form, and if you put that together that makes Scotty the captain for tomorrow. You know what he''s like on the football field. I have never met anyone who has met Scott Brown who didn''t think he was a good lad. Anyone who meets him thinks he is terrific. We were at Aberdeen Sports Village today, and I turned back and he was talking and laughing with the staff. They enjoyed his company. He is the same with the players, he is infectious, he has time for people. He has no time for anyone who wants to get the better of him on a football field, but that''s fine. He is well respected as a player and a person in the squad."
Brown is hopeful of being able to play a full part in the game despite not training with the rest of the squad on Tuesday after snow meant that the session was moved indoors. Brown said: "We have played a lot of games in the last month and training indoors wasn''t the best for my body, so I did my own bit. I only got 30 minutes at the weekend so I''m feeling fresh. I want to get as long as I can or as long as the gaffer wants to keep me on the park."