STICK AROUND
Tierney says Brown must stay in place for England
KIERAN TIERNEY has implored Scott Brown to remain available for international selection until the visit of England on June 10.
The Celtic and Scotland captain called time on his career in Dark Blue at the outset of the World Cup campaign only to reconsider his decision before the defeat at Wembley in November.
Playing the best football of his career at the age of 31, Brown cited his close relationship with Gordon Strachan as a prime motivation for extending the game-by-game arrangement into Sunday’s pivotal 1-0 win against Slovenia.
Chris Martin’s late goal saw Strachan’s men surge back into contention in Group F, with the early summer showdown against the Auld Enemy now taking on enormous importance.
Brown’s dilemma is that Celtic are likely to meet for pre-season training around June 21 — meaning he’d only have around ten days’ holiday before another domestic campaign begins.
But Celtic team-mate Tierney feels the added importance Sunday’s win has given the England match leaves Brown with no decision to make.
‘The England game is absolutely massive now,’ said the 19-year-old. ‘It was always a massive game. But it’s one we are looking forward to.
‘It’s smack bang in the middle of the
holidays but I am sure Broony will look forward to it. ‘He’s been absolutely brilliant for me since day one when I was with the Under-20s. ‘He’s helped me on the way up, all the way to the Scotland squad. ‘I hope he doesn’t retire again now. You saw him the other night, he was brilliant again. He was keeping us going, being a real leader and captain.’ With the Champions League qualifiers already looming large in mid-July, Brown is likely to discuss the matter with Brendan Rodgers before making a decision. And he outlined the logistical difficulty he was facing. ‘We’ll see how it goes,’ said Brown. ‘It’s going to be a hard situation because we are back so early in June. ‘Last year, I had six weeks off, so I need to look after my body as well and see how it is for Celtic. ‘I need to maintain the level and the fitness that I have been playing at all season. If I can maintain that as long as I possibly can, you never know.’ Tierney, meanwhile, enhanced his own reputation by excelling in the unfamiliar position of right-back against Slovenia. Arsenal legend Ian Wright said he would be the ideal replacement for Kieran Gibbs were he to move on from the Emirates at the end of the season. ‘Tierney looks really impressive,’ said Wright. ‘I saw Arsenal were linked with him. He was one of the players on Arsene Wenger’s wish list. He looks pretty useful.’