brown’s debt to gers

Semi-final loss last season was a wake-up call

SCOTT BROWN has revealed a defeat by Rangers was the catalyst to his improved form this season.

April’s loss to the Light Blues in the Scottish Cup semi-final made him decide to quit Scotland to concentrate all his energies on his club duties.

Ahead of today’s League Cup semi-final, he said: “That was a kind of watershed moment for me. I started thinking about Scotland and what I had to do.

“That’s when I decided to not train as much, to take time off and look after my body off the park and on the park as well.

“It was becoming like a 12-month season for me because you were away with Scotland.

“Now I am using the time off at international breaks to let my body recover.”

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