Brown relishes rest as he rules
IN Scottish football, it’s best to never rule anything out. But judging by the body language of a refreshed and relaxed Scott Brown at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training base yesterday, it is safe to assume that he won’t be riding to Scotland’s rescue any time soon.
Of course, Brown was persuaded to come out of international retirement once before when his mentor Gordon Strachan was leading the national side, and the lack of a combative presence in the middle of the park was noted by many observers during Scotland’s bruising double-header over the past week.
There is no doubting either that Brown is a proud patriot, and watching the defeats to Russia and Belgium hurt him as much as any Scot. But at 34 now, there is also no room for doubt that the break he has just enjoyed was of huge mental and physical benefit to the midfielder as he looks to stay at the highest level he possibly can for as long as he can in club football.
“I’d love to be able to go and help the boys,” Brown said. “I’d love to be able to keep playing for Scotland and be there, but you just know when the time is right for yourself and your body.
“I do notice a huge difference. I’m coming off 10 days without a game right now.
“I was still training but it’s not as hard as what the guys had to do against Russia and Belgium. Those were two hard games and it’s physically and mentally draining. You don’t get as much of the ball as you do at Celtic and it’s hard playing in games like that.
“I feel my body is good as it can be now, because I am getting the extra rest. There are more international breaks in October and November, and then we have time off in January. I am looking month to month these days. I can push myself as I know I will get that recovery.
“I was delighted to get the break. I played golf, chilled out and spent some time with the kids as well.
“I was away with Steven Whittaker and it was good to switch off and not chat too much about football.
“It wasn’t about who we are playing at the weekend – it was about how bad our golf is, and how bad the Scottish weather is.
“It’s good for me personally to get some time, especially as I am a little bit older now too. I went away, had a couple of days here and there, and recharged the batteries.
“The last few days have been hard and now we have a huge game on Saturday.”
The only respite Brown had to the point of the international break since pre-season was when he was allowed to sit out the fraught Betfred Cup tie against Dunfermline in mid-August, and judging by the jittery performance of the side that day, manager Neil Lennon (inset) may not be minded to leave him out again any time soon.
But Brown says that even he is not untouchable given the competition for places in Celtic’s midfield, giving the much-needed break he has enjoyed further significance as he looks to maintain top form.
“You can always get dropped,” he said. “I can play myself into that situation – believe me.
“I spoke to the gaffer and he will give me a rest at times, like against Dunfermline. There are loads of games and if he gets the chance to do that, he will.
“It’s just to keep me as fit as possible for games but we have a huge squad and everyone will play over the course of the season.
“It will be hard for anyone to play 60 to 65 games a season so we will all get a chance to recover.
“It’s hard for me, but especially the international boys. They are away for two games and then back into the thick of it.
“It’s tough because they don’t get a break until January.”
Brown’s team-mates James Forrest and Callum McGregor know only too well of what he speaks. The former played 63 games last season, with the latter involved in 69, with both players also called up to the latest Scotland camp.
Their great advantage over Brown though is their youth, and the Celtic captain has backed them to handle another gruelling campaign for club and country.
“They’ve done it for so long they get used to it,” Brown said. “You’re not always going to be 100-per-cent but they’ve been phenomenal.
“They grind through it and play week in and week out. It’s hard on their bodies but they are young, they are keen, and they want to do it. That’s the main thing.
“I’m sure the lads love going away because they don’t need to train in sunny Lennoxtown as much.
“It’s straight in – game, game – and everybody prefers that to training.”
Even without his own services, Brown believes that Scotland manager Steve Clarke can get it right before the all-important Euro 2020 play-offs kick off in March.
“Steve will do a great job,” he said. “He just needs that bit of time to figure out who is going to play where.
“Hopefully he will get us to the Euros and a World Cup as well. He is the right man at the right time.
“Scotland fans will think we should win every game but Belgium and Russia are top quality. It was always going to be hard.”
Scott Brown was speaking as he helped promote the Celtic women’s team’s new sponsorship deal with energy company Utilita