Scott Brown declares Rangers victory over Alfredo Morelos as Celtic hero issues 'in his head' verdict

Some scars heal more quickly than others. And few in football have had to learn that lesson with more courage or grace than Scott Brown.

On the pitch, Brown inflicted as many of them as he received. In a relentless pursuit of silverware, Celtic’s combat hardened, shaven headed captain was prepared to put his own body on the line as well as those who were standing in his way. But there was a time when none of it mattered. When the flame that raged inside this fiery youngster was in danger of going out for good.

The death of sister Fiona at the age of 21 - following a year long fight against cancer - plunged Brown’s personal life into darkness just when his professional career was ready for take off. Brown left Hibs for Celtic in the summer of 2007. Less than 12 months later, Fiona passed away at home with her family around her.

Her illness had been kept behind closed doors. But Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and CEO Peter Lawwell were acutely aware of the agony the 22-year-old was enduring behind the scenes. Not least because Strachan’s right hand man Tommy Burns lost the same battle just one week earlier.

And, speaking in the Daily Record’s new Off The Record podcast, Brown reveals how the deep bonds forged during that time of despair, became a driving force behind his rise to the status as a Celtic legend. He said: “My form went up and down and that was understandable at the time.

“But, for me, the club was exceptional. Peter Lawwell was brilliant. And there’s not a lot of people that would get phone calls from the CEO just to ask how you are or how the family is doing.

“Tommy was going through the exact same. Tommy was exceptional. On the day he passed away he still managed to send my sister flowers. They arrived on