Former Celtic captain Scott Brown is reportedly keen to speak to St Johnstone about their manager vacancy, with a Scottish Premiership dugout debut against Celtic this Saturday not impossible.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who believe the Celtic club legend is among the frontrunners to take over the Perthshire outfit.

After a spell in charge of Fleetwood Town, Brown moved to Ayr United earlier this year and has started this season's Scottish Championship well – currently sitting in first place having played two more games than second-place Falkirk.

Craig Levein was dismissed from McDiarmid Park earlier this month, and the likes of Brown, Larne boss Tiernan Lynch, Aberdeen coach Peter Leven and Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray have all featured high in the bookies favourites.

With Brown reportedly keen to speak to those in charge at St Johnstone, it's likewise understood the club are seeking permission from Ayr United to do the same.

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Last week, while speaking to Premiers Sports about his former club's Champions League exploits so far this season, Brown said: "They've been excellent. Not conceded a goal in the league, dominating games. Brendan has always wanted to play possession-based football, and he's got a drive to make sure that every single player gets better.

"They work hard and they look after themselves. You can see it's proven the case yet again. Celtic look a class above everybody else in the league.

"Whether they are playing Rangers or playing Hearts, they are dominating games, and that's what's exciting about watching them at this moment in time.

"The players that they have brought in will hopefully enhance the squad in the Champions League as well, because the hardest thing in football is to go from the Champions League back to the SPL because there is a big difference. Especially how hard the lads have to work in the Champions League games."