Just being mentioned in the same breath as Willie Miller is lofty praise in north east football circles.
But Stephen Glass reckons even the man voted Aberdeen’s greatest ever player would welcome comparisons between his own commanding influence on the Dons and the player currently in possession of the captain’s armband - Scott Brown.
Miller’s qualities as a central defender who belied his sub-6ft frame with the ability to read the game like a book and colossal leadership ability saw him dubbed the “greatest penalty box defender in the world” by Sir Alex Ferguson in his pomp.
It’s those attributes Brown is now having to draw upon after being thrust into the heart of the Dons defence amid an injury crisis at Pittodrie.
And it’s worked a treat as the tide begins to turn on a season floundering out of control on the back of a 10-game winless run in which goals were being shipped like ferries out of Aberdeen harbour.
A 1-0 win over Hibs and an impressive 2-2 draw at Ibrox has the Red Army believing again.
That the two results have coincided with Brown’s experience being shifted rom the middle of the park into a makeshift back three does not surprise boss Glass one little bit.
When it was put to him that Brown was thriving in the “Willie Miller role”, the Aberdeen boss made one small correction but was in no mood to disagree.
He said: “Willie played in a pair – and a very good pair at that!
“An experienced player who can play there is vital. A leader like that at the back of the pitch, someone who can see everything, is important.
“When he’s playing midfield, he gets deeper anyway, sits in between the centre-backs to get the ball and build play even when we’re playing with a four at the back.
“I think both of those guys (Miller and Brown) would like the comparison, though. Because they’re both pure winners.
“His ability to read the game definitely has made up for any lack of height.
“You are seeing him being so good positionally that he’s making clearing headers.
“It’s an extra body in the box when crosses are getting slung in.
“That was the biggest threat Rangers were going to pose us on Wednesday night, the great deliveries they put in from their full-backs.
“We almost knew that was where we were going to give that up a little bit. But we had the bodies to deal with it – Scott included.
“So yeah, he’s doing everything we’ve expected him to do. And more.”
Brown’s move back the way hasn’t stopped his goal threat either as he proved with a magnificent diving header from a corner for the second goal at Ibrox.
Glass, who played alongside a young Brown at Hibs, insists there’s plenty more to come from the 36-year-old.
He said: “I hope so, yeah. It’s different types of goals he’s scoring these days – he used to run 60 or 70 yards with the ball at his feet back in his younger days.
“Now he’s getting time to get up while we wait to take a corner kick!
“He almost scored against Celtic as well, of course, and he’s dangerous in the opposition box.
“His leadership qualities were evident the other night, the way he was dragging the team up, pulling them into position and talking at the right times.
“And his quality on the ball is fantastic, as well. Nothing has changed with that.
‘I think he’s shown his real value through this little period we’ve been in, how we’ve managed to come through it.”
Glass is preparing his side for another massive test when Hearts put their unbeaten record on the line at Pittodrie this afternoon.
The Dons boss was unhappy with the penalty the Jambos scored from in the 1-1 draw at Tynecastle back in August.
He was even angrier at the 81st minute spot kick which led to Rangers grabbing a point on Wednesday.
No surprise then that Glass wants VAR brought into Scottish football as soon as possible.
He said: “Of course I would vote for it. You see mistakes with it as well, to be honest.
“But it’s something that would eradicate what people consider obvious mistakes. Let’s leave it at that.”
Looking back to the Ibrox draw Glass, who is hopeful Christian Ramirez will be fit to face hearts after limping off at Ibrox, went on: “I’ll focus on the positive side.
“The spirited performance that we put in, we scored a couple of good goals and prevented a good Rangers team from creating a lot of chances. Looking back on it, Fergie had an unbelievable chance to put us 3-0 up.
“Some of that is getting lost in the furore around the refereeing stuff. It was a very good performance from my players and that’s what I’d rather concentrate on.
“I don’t know about rejuvenated. I don’t even know the word because I’ve been consistent in my belief in the group. I think they’re feeling a reward for the work they’ve put in.”
