SCOTT BROWN has hailed Celtic starlet Kieran Tierney as the teenager is set for his first Scotland cap tonight.

The young left-back has been one of the sensations of the season since he burst into the Parkhead first team earlier this campaign.

His performances for the Hoops, particularly in Europe, attracted many admirers, including Scotland boss Gordon Strachan who called him up for tonight’s friendly with Denmark at Hampden.

Celtic skipper Brown has seen close up the meteoric rise of the boy from Motherwell who has matured through the ranks into a Celtic regular.

And he is proud to be part of an occasion at the national stadium tonight that he will see his club-mate receive his first cap.

“I’d love to tell him I’ve taught him everything I know, but that’s a load of rubbish,” joked Brown. “The wee man has great spirit and enthusiasm.

“That’s what makes him the player he is, a will to win and a desire to make that tackle.

“He’s not scared of anyone, that’s what is brilliant about him. He just wants to play football, he is honest and a great pro as well.”

Stuart McCall described Tierney as ‘The Son of Broony’ due to his demeanour and character while mixing with a Scotland squad filled with senior pros, and Brown added: “That’s probably not the proudest moment of his career so far, being called that by Stuart McCall.

“But he’s got a left foot, which I definitely don’t have.”

Brown’s maturity has brought him even closer to the youth of today.

While the Celtic skipper still plays an integral role in the heart of Ronny Deila’s midfield, the 30-year-old is already building towards a future on the side of the park and a career in coaching.

It is an experience Brown insists he enjoys greatly as he gets to see talents such as Tierney improve and rise through the ranks.

“I don’t think about that so much when I’m with Scotland. I just enjoy Gordon’s training because I know what he’s about,” he said.

“He has so many different methods about how he wants to play. But it’s all about the ball, how you work hard with it and when you’re off it.

“If anyone is struggling on the park for a breather, other people will cover. He understands that side of the game.

“It’s more when I’m at Celtic that I look at the young kids coming through. I’ve been helping coach them and going along to games, then welcoming them into the first team squad.

“You do understand the game a bit better when you are coaching. Especially as a central midfield player, I notice stuff and try and think of what I would do or what other players have done against me.

“You look at space and how you find space. Other people have abilities I’ve never had, so I’m always willing to learn more.

“That helps me now. I look at the game a little bit better than I did when I was 20.”