BROWN SET FOR TALKS OVER HIS SCOTS FUTURE

SCOTT BROWN has revealed he will meet caretaker Scotland boss Malky Mackay later this week to clarify his international future.

The 32-year-old, who came out of international retirement during the failed World Cup qualifying campaign, last night reiterated his disappointment at Gordon Strachan being cut loose and insisted the Scottish FA board have created a dangerous precedent by getting rid of a national coach who had gone a year unbeaten.

‘We will see what happens,’ said Brown. ‘I’m going to speak to Malky and see how it goes.

‘I have spoken to the manager and he spoke to Malky. I am now going to have a wee chat with him.

‘I know (what I want to do), but I am not telling you in a million years. ‘I was very disappointed to see Gordon go. If any manager comes in and gets 14 points out of 18, they could be getting the sack from Scotland these days.

‘It’s a hard one to take. Gordon has been great with me throughout my career and will continue to be. I’ll keep in contact with him.’ When asked if the SFA had spoken to him over Strachan’s removal and the future of the national team, Brown replied: ‘No. I didn’t expect them to.’

Brown helped Celtic take their unbeaten domestic run to 60 games in yesterday’s 4-2 Betfred Cup semi-final win over Hibernian at Hampden and he insists the displays of substitutes Moussa Dembele, Tom Rogic and James Forrest offer proof of just why they are so tough to match up to.

‘It’s not just that record that keeps us going,’ he said. ‘It’s the manager’s high demands and the pressure the boys are putting on each other.

‘There’s competition for places and you see people coming off the bench, scoring goals and keeping the ball.

‘It’s only people on the outside who are putting pressure on us about the unbeaten run. We are relaxed and enjoying our football.

‘Maybe sometimes fans get a fright with the way we play the ball from the back, but that’s how the manager wants us to play. We don’t want to be an ugly football team.

‘We want to be a dominant force in Scotland and in Europe.’