Scott Brown tells Celtic they already have 'mini Callum McGregor' at club and gives Hoops player rave review
The Celtic icon has watched the star closely this season.
Scott Brown has raved over an emerging Celtic talent - and reckons he’s got a skillset akin to captain Callum McGregor.
His side in the Scottish Championship have signed a co-operation agreement with Celtic, a new loan system installed by the SFA. It allows players aged 16-21, who are eligible to represent the Scotland national teams, to join a lower-league club and move between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season. Ayr have handed Hoops midfield duo Jude Bonnar and Kyle Ure senior exposure this season, with the latter in particular earning Brown’s praise.
Ure has injured his hamstring but that has now had his gaffer downplaying his impact. The former Celtic captain says the current Hoops talent has been at the top of his stats list at Somerset Park and that he has a style that can be compared to McGregor, who’s won trophies aplenty in Glasgow during Brown’s time as a player and after succeeding him as skipper.
Scott Brown on emerging Celtic talent
He told the Breakdown: “We’ve got Kyle Ure and Jude Bonnar now. We had Josh Clarke last season as well. Ure went away with Scotland U21s and ruptured his hamstring. He’s very good. Honestly, he’s like a mini Callum McGregor. He’s very robust and gets after people and gets on the ball, lovely left foot.
“He’s a very intelligent footballer. If you change shape, what Cal does is he’ll push KT (Tierney) out and move into a back four or knows when to go out wide as well. Kyle is the exact same. Jude has a lovely left foot and he’s taller than I thought he was. It’s great to have them as it gives them an opportunity.
“The two of them did really well in the Lowland League, both of them were standouts. I asked for a couple of favours (from Celtic) and they’ve done very well. They improve us every day. Kyle is at the top of everything stats wise.”
Kyle Ure on loan from Celtic to Ayr United
Speaking in November on McGregor, Ure said: “I don't think there's a better person you can be compared to. Coming up through Celtic you're trying to play how the first team plays. To be compared and told you play the exact same way as what the club captain does in your position. It's what you want to be recognised for.
“I feel like that's the way Celtic want to play so I've adapted to play that way. I can do other stuff as well but to be recognised in the same way as he does is amazing. You see him every day in training, best player in training. His team's always going to be winning. For any young boy going up, you can see straight away how good he is.
“The basics, he's so good at everything about him. The way he conducts himself on and off the park. He’s a real role model for everyone at the club. He's brand new. You can't ask for a nicer guy as well. On the training pitch he’ll speak to you. If I ever need to go and ask him something I feel like I could but at the same time I don't want to pester him. He’s a great guy, great player and I think everybody knows that now.”