As he blinks through the shortest of close season’s Scott Brown will celebrate his 32nd birthday.
A generation or two ago he’d be well into the veteran stage in his career but like the haircut little has changed during his decade at Celtic.
After looking down and out last season Brown is playing his best ever football to take the hoops to within three matches of the treble.
Throughout his career Gordon Strachan has been a mentor to the midfielder with his advise today as relevant as it was a decade ago when the Fifer became a £4.4m Celtic signing.
Reflecting on the age issue Brown told the Daily Record: “I spoke to him (Strachan) the other day and he was saying he told me last season that when you’re 29 and have a bad game you’re just s**** but when you’re 30 and have a bad game then your legs have gone.
“He said, ‘You’re 31 and flying – you need to get it out of everybody’s head that you’re too old before your time and play as long as you can. I played until I was 40.’ And I was like, ‘Aye, I know gaffer – we all know you played until you were 40!’
“I probably couldn’t play as well as he did when he was 40 but I’ll give it a right good go and play as long as I possibly can.”
After a two match ban Brown returns to action on Thursday night as Celtic take on Partick Thistle at Firhill.
In his absence the hoops have beaten St Johnstone and Aberdeen but there’s no argument about who will be the first name on Brendan Rodgers team-sheet as the hoops aim to go within 90 minutes of completing the season unbeaten.