New Year return for Celtic's Brown?

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown could be out until the New Year and there is a chance he may require further surgery.

The Scotland international hasn't featured since the Europa League clash with Hamburg on October 22 and boss Tony Mowbray has said the player is trying to get as many opinions as possible about his ankle injury.

Mowbray, who has yet to see the best of Scott Brown in a Celtic jersey since becoming manager in the summer, is keen to ensure the £4.4million signing from Hibs is given enough time to recover, rather than fall into a routine of playing a few weeks and then missing a few weeks due to his ankle problem.

Mowbray was quoted by the Scottish Sun as saying: "Scott continues to see specialists. We're making sure he sees the best people available, canvassing some opinions. Sometimes you can put your trust in one guy and it might not work. So at the moment we're getting a few opinions and trying to come up with the best solution for Scott.

"At the moment I'm erring on the safer side of giving him a break and letting him rest it up. He's desperate to get back playing. But our priority is to look after the boy's welfare and make sure he doesn't continue to play through gritted teeth. We're not thinking of a second operation at the moment. But it's a fair comment to say that, by deduction, if he's going to more than one guy then it's a concern."

With a number of players currently unavailable through injury, it has to be hoped Brown will make his return to action sooner than later - although, as Mowbray has stressed, it's not worth rushing him back only for his ankle to give way again.

Brown's form may not have been superb for some time, and some would argue he has yet to justify his hefty price-tag, but with the team looking less-than-cohesive, his return would surely improve the starting XI.

In other news, Mowbray revealed that 18-year-old defender Josh Thompson, who joined from Stockport in the summer, could face Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday if Glenn Loovens fails to prove his fitness ahead of the game, for which Stephen McManus is suspended.

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