Just as when he first stepped into Celtic Park, Brendan Rodgers believes that reports of Scott Brown’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

With Brown out of sight and out of mind in the treatment room for almost two months, there has been an opinion that the tempo of Celtic’s midfield has upped in his absence.

Callum McGregor has adapted well to the defensive role that Brown plays while the tempo of the Celtic midfield has been notable. Ryan Christie’ emergence into the team since that Betfred League Cup semi-final win at Hearts has given the Parkhead side added impetus in the middle while James Forrest has been consistently impressive.

Brown has been Rodgers’ leader on the pitch since his arrival at the club in 2016. It is Brown who matured into the leadership role and who has been Celtic in microcosm as Rodgers’ sides have controlled the domestic landscape.

If there has been a suspicion that for the first time in his reign, there will be a cold shoulder as Brown looks to return, Rodgers did not waste any time in dismissing it.

“I have seen a few reports since I have been up here…there are boys talking about it and yes, we function well, but that is because we have always functioned as a collective,” he said. “The team doesn’t rely on one player.

“We build it around the team. Individual players are important but they will never win you things. It is about the collective.

“And Browny is a big part of that no matter how much people want to write him off and wither him away. It was like when I first came in and people wanted to write him off. He is absolutely a very important part for us and it will be the collective that will win us things and he will play.

“He might have to come out, like anyone else, but what the last seven weeks have shown is what our ethos is about – it is about the team and the team has functioned well.”

With 11 games between now and the winter break, there is no question that Brown will have a role to play for Celtic. Saturday’s plastic surface might curtail his return but the expectation is that he will be a prominent figurehead as Rodgers’ side aim to continue their domestic stranglehold.

Beyond that, though, remains to be seen.

A coaching role would appear to be the long-term view held by both Brown and Celtic but with the midfielder’s contract running into his final months and the opportunity of a final swansong in Australia, there is every chance Brown could look towards a move away from Glasgow this summer.

Western Melbourne are awaiting a December 12th decision which will announce whether or not they have been successful in securing one of two expansion places in the A-League. They have identified Brown as their marquee signing while there has also been tentative interest in the player from the MLS.

At the minute, a move to Australia is believed to hold genuine appeal for Brown and his young family.

Certainly, Rodgers believes the 33-year-old has earned the right to take his time about what the next step is.

“I have said it before, he just deserves the time,” said Rodgers of the current PFA Player of the Year. “Scott has a great relationship with the club and we want him to stay and at the minute he is just concentrating on trying to get himself fit. There is a long time between now and the end of the season.

“It is experience, isn’t it? You think from a strategic point of view, football wise. But when you speak to players you make it clear that you want them to stay but you have to be honest if they ask your advice what it would look for something else.

“Obviously if there is a real big financial incentive as well then it is very hard to deny players the opportunity to do that.”

Rodgers previously revealed that he would advise his players in the same way he would advise his own son but ultimately the final call has to come on the part of the player. Rodgers has seen a clutch of first-team players commit their long-term future to Celtic over the last few months but it remains to be seen just what Brown settles on at the end of the current campaign.

“Likewise with Craig Gordon when I first came in,” said Rodgers.”There was interest from Chelsea and I could give him the Chelsea experience, great club, everything and financially it was a great offer for him but then they have to make the decision. You can never make it for them.

“You have to be open and give them what you know about a club or a country and a league as well.”