Brendan Rodgers: I'd have had Celtic skipper Scott Brown in my Liverpool team

That was the proclamation from Brendan Rodgers as he hailed the Celtic skipper’s formidable start to the campaign.

The midfielder has been a revelation since the Northern Irishman took over at Celtic Park in the summer and has transformed himself into the driving force behind the Hoops surge this campaign.

Rodgers has been blown away by the attitude of the player who was ready to leave his newborn baby and family on Wednesday to travel north to Dingwall for Celtic’s match with Ross County.

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And the former Anfield boss has revealed Brown would have been a key part of his Liverpool side that came up two points short to Premier League winners Manchester City in 2014.

He said: “The biggest compliment I can give him is that, having worked in what is supposedly is the best league in the world in terms of being the most competitive league in the world, Scott Brown, if I look at my Liverpool team that nearly won the title, he would definitely have been in it.

“There’s no doubt about that – so that’s the level that the guy is at as a player and as a captain, you want him on your team and on your side.

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“It’s the biggest accolade that I can give him. But thankfully he’s chosen to play nearly 10 years at Celtic and still looks as strong and fit.

“He’s devoting his life to football, really strong, his preparation, his diet, the training methodology will always quicken him up, speed his game and get him tactically thinking.

“You saw on Sunday [against Rangers in the Betfred Cup], he was magnificent.”

Talking about his wish to join the team for their 3-0 win in the Highlands, Rodgers added: “I’m not sure what Lisa would’ve said if he’d come with the squad! But, at the time he doesn’t want to miss a game.

“He’s someone I’ve been so impressed with since I first met him in my house earlier on in the season. He’s just really devoted himself to how I’ve wanted the team to operate on the field and off it.”

Brown is now in his 10th season at Celtic since joining from Hibs in the summer of 2007.

In that time he has grown into an experience player and leader after being made captain in 2010.

Since then, opportunities have come and gone for the 31-year-old to move down south to a bigger league and on bigger money.

However, Rodgers is glad he remained at Paradise long enough for their paths to cross.

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“I think there was interest,” said the Celtic boss. “I remember Harry Redknapp at Tottenham wanting to take him there, Harry told me that.

“We talked over the years, so there’s no doubt he’s had moves where he could’ve left here.

“But, he was happy in his life and happy here at Celtic. As I said this is a hard place to leave.

“If money’s not the consideration, and listen no one can deny any player or any person the chance to consider doubling or trebling your salary, then other things come into it.”