SCOTT BROWN has been urged to extend his Scotland return beyond tomorrow's Auld Enemy showdown - by the man tipped to replace him.

The Celtic captain called a halt to his international retirement last month after initially hanging up his dark blue jersey for the last time back in August.

His influence both on the park and off it has been praised by manager Gordon Strachan along with his Scotland team-mates with the 31-year-old revealing he will wait until to decide what to do beyond the game with England.

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But midfield partner John McGinn, hotly fancied to become a big part of the Scotland set up for years to come, is keen for Brown to hang around, and said: "I hope for the country's sake he doesn't leave any time soon.

"It's great to have him back.

"He was always a tough opponent. You knew you had to be at the top of your game and that gives you a wee boost.

"I think if you go head-to-head with him, he enjoys it. It brings the best out of him. We had a few tussles against each other so it's good to be on the same side as him."

McGinn could be forgiven for being glad to see the back of Brown in a Scotland jersey given the similarities between the pair.

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the Hibs midfielder is rightly seen as a natural successor to the Hoops skipper for his country given his energy, authority and ability.

However, McGinn insists he is more than happy to welcome his Celtic counterpart back to the international fold.

"Yeah absolutely you can learn from him," he said. "There are lots of good and different midfielders here and I just take little bits from everyone's game to try and make me better. I'm lucky to sit and listen to them at dinner and feel their experience of the game. They've been through what I've been through so it's priceless for me.

"As for being similar players, I don't know. I think we're a little bit different. The manager has different options and hopefully I can partner him at some point like I did against Denmark.

"I think we'd both run through a brick wall to get the ball. We both might argue who is better on the ball but we'll let him argue about that."

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McGinn jokes that the former Hibee has been giving him plenty of advice about the local hot spots now he himself is through in Edinburgh wearing the green and white of the Easter Road club.

"He's been telling me about restaurants in Edinburgh recently," laughed McGinn. "He gives you bits and bobs which are really helpful.

"It's good to have contacts like that who have been along the same path as me. If I can have a career half as good as Scott, Fletch [Darren Fletcher] or James Morrison, I'll be delighted."