400 GAMES 1 BIG QUESTION

As Brown prepares for a landmark outing, Rodgers waits for his call on Scots

JUST as Scott Brown prepares to reach one career milestone, another major crossroads comes into view. Tomorrow night against St Johnstone, the Celtic skipper will pull on the jersey for the 400th time. At 31 and approaching the tenth anniversary of his £4.4million move from Hibs, the midfielder has emphatically answered the many questions that were asked of him as he hobbled towards the end of the last campaign.

One sizeable, outstanding issue remains, however. When Brown talked ten days ago in Dubai about the dilemma of continuing to play for Scotland or truly retiring for good, his angst and indecision were apparent.

On the one hand, there is his loyalty to Gordon Strachan to consider as well as his fierce patriotism and the flickering hope of yet making the World Cup. On the other, there is the toll on his limbs, his club obligations and the fact that defeating Slovenia in March would surely compel him to stick around for the visit of England in June.

Decision time is fast approaching but one thing Brown does know is that if he does stand down, this time the matter is final.

Publicly, at least, Brendan Rodgers has taken a diplomatic stance. It is a manager’s default position in such times. Yet while seeing his skipper participating in the Slovenia game is not in itself likely to overly stress the Celtic boss, it can be taken that the June 10 date with England most certainly would.

‘We’ve talked,’ said Rodgers. ‘I think he’s pretty clear on where I see him at. I’ve had experiences of these types of situations. I remember (it) with Steven (Gerrard) at the time, as well.

‘It has to be right for him. Scott knows where he needs to be at, in order to play the game at the level he wants to be at. He’s in a different stage of his life now. He knows that.

‘Of course I can give him my feelings on it. He will speak to Gordon, I’m sure. He only wants what’s best for Scotland, but he also has to look out for himself. He’s at that stage now where he has to look after himself. I’m sure he’ll make the decision in time.’

While Rodgers would never dream of openly stating his position, it can be safely assumed that, in the event that Brown opts to draw a line under his international tenure having reached cap No 51, he will not be attempting to talk him out of it.

An awkward compromise, with the player playing in the first but not the second game, is unlikely to work for any party.

‘I’ve not thought about it,’ added Rodgers. ‘It’s a difficult one. An international manager thinks about the now, but you’ve got to think about the future.

‘I think we all understood the reasons why Scott came back to play in the England game.

‘Going forward, he’s got some big decisions to make. I think he’s clear in his own mind how he sees it evolving, but, like I say, my worry is for Celtic and I want to make sure he’s the best he can possibly be for Celtic.’

Almost from the minute Rodgers walked through the door, Brown has been all that. Totally transformed from the laboured, immobile figure of last season, without question the most productive spell of his career has come since the summer.

An invitation to Rodgers’ London home at the outset of a new era proved the catalyst for his spectacular renaissance.

If that was partly designed, on the manager’s part, to get his skipper buying into his ideas from the word go, it was also intended to begin the healing process of a player who many felt was nearing the end.

‘To accumulate that number of games in the modern era at a club where the expectancy is huge is incredible,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m glad he’s getting the appreciation for what he gives the team.

‘He is now getting appreciated for his footballing qualities and his professionalism.

‘To do that at a club like Celtic, where there are challenges every single day, is testament to his level of energy and desire as well as his quality on the field.’ Generous words of encouragement were never going to be enough, though. Brown was not the only player whose physical condition often appeared to be at odds with the promises of Ronny Deila. What Rodgers brought, however, was not just his own football knowledge but a team of fitness and conditioning experts that befitted a club such as Celtic.

‘My feeling always is that it is about environment,’ said Rodgers. ‘With 95 per cent of players, they want to improve. If you create the environment for them and have a plan for each individual, they can improve.

‘What level they reach is entirely up to them. That is about nutrition, listening, coaching. A bit of everything.

‘I felt, with him, if we could take all of those aspects of football which make you perform and improve it all by a little bit, then it could change a lot. That is what Scott has done.

‘He has been outstanding domestically and, in Europe, he was first class — if you have seen his stats and numbers in relation to his passing qualities.

‘There were enough people who said that wasn’t his strength. That he could just run about and kick people.

‘But I think he has shown he can channel it in the right way. He has shown to me a high level of technical and tactical ability to play the game. And it is improving all the time.

‘It is massive credit to him because he has wanted to change and play the game in a different way. And also play his life in a different way.

‘He has performed to an excellent level. He is a great fella. It’s a pleasure working with him.

‘It doesn’t matter if he is playing at the Nou Camp or playing where we did on Sunday (Excelsior Stadium for the Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers). He is up for every game.’