The landscape of football is changing, and for some, it’s not heading in the right direction.
That’s a generalisation of football overall, with money now a huge, huge factor, as Celtic know too well, despite their dominance at the top of Scottish football.
With the millions and millions being spent by clubs across Europe, it also results in domestic players and home-grown stars perhaps being pushed towards the back, and not being handed the chances they want.
But for Celtic’s win over St Mirren, on Flag Day and the opening game of the 2025/26 Premiership season, Scott Brown was delighted to see Brendan Rodgers hand a selection of Scottish contingents a chance.
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Scott Brown on four Scottish players featuring for Celtic against St Mirren
With Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic this summer, that adds to the list of another Scottish player featuring for the club on a regular basis, alongside captain Callum McGregor.
Then you have match-winner Luke McCowan, who came off the bench against St Mirren, alongside Celtic’s most decorated player of all-time, James Forrest.
Brown told Sky Sports Football (03/08/25) that he was delighted to see those four on the pitch because he doesn’t think it has happened for a ‘long, long time.’
“It was great to see four Scottish lads in Celtic’s team, which probably hasn’t happened for a long, long time,” said Brown.
“Jamesy comes on. I thought he was brilliant when he came on. He is a little bit different from what Yang is. He is very direct. Wants to come into the middle of the park and link up play.
“It’s always hard to force your way into that first team,” said Brown about McCowan. “But he is there. He is reliable. He is scoring goals.
“See, when he comes on, he does make an impact, and he does score goals. I think that’s the biggest thing for Luke, at this moment in time.”
Minutes for Celtic’s Scottish players last season
The one who stands above them all, and is probably the first name on the teamsheet, is retired Scotland international, McGregor.
But, over the years, the number of Scottish players, not just featuring for Celtic, but across the board in the league, is dropping, and that’s because of the money that’s in the game, as well as the crave for foreign stars.
This was the list of minutes Scottish players earned for Celtic last season:
- Callum McGregor: 4,644 minutes
- Stephen Welsh: 175 minutes
- Dane Murray: 98 minutes
- Greg Taylor: 3,141 minutes
- Luke McCowan: 1,540 minutes
- Anthony Ralston: 1,110 minutes
- Jude Bonnar: 10 minutes
- Sean McArdle: 14 minutes
- James Forrest: 1,220 minutes
- Daniel Cummings: 11 minutes
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