Brown opts to stay in the Scotland fold for Slovenia
SCOTT BROWN, the Celtic captain, has confirmed that he will return to the international squad for Scotland’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Hampden.
The midfielder announced his retirement from international football in order to focus exclusively on his commitments to Celtic in August last year as Scotland embarked on their World Cup qualifying campaign.
He reversed that decision, believed to be upon Gordon Strachan’s request, when England hosted Scotland at Wembley in October of last year on the understanding that his return was taken in isolation.
“We’ll see if I get the call but I am available,” said Brown. “Gordon and myself speak regularly and he knows I’m available but it’s up to him to pick me. That will be for the next game and then we’ll take it from there.”
It is unlikely, however, that Brown will be available to Strachan for the visit of England to Hampden on June 10th. Celtic return to pre-season training less than a fortnight after the game in order to prepare for UEFA Champions League qualifying matches which essentially underpin the tone of the Parkhead side’s season.
It is understood the player as well as his club manager, Brendan Rodgers, believe he requires sufficient rest between back-to-back campaigns in which Celtic will play around 60 games each time.
“The England game is the big problem for me,” said Brown. “I’ve spoken before about the importance of the game and what it means but at the moment all I’m thinking about is getting three points for Scotland against Slovenia and then go from there.
“I don’t think they have looked at Celtic’s schedule! It’s okay for the guys in England, they can come back then they are away again for another four weeks. They obviously haven’t considered Scottish players though. We could have six players in the Scotland squad who would be back within a fortnight for the qualifiers. The thing I’ve got going for me is Gordon. Everyone knows who close we are. The game by game thing is huge for me.”