PREMIERSHIP

Ryan Jack’s season may be over as he recuperates from knee surgery but interim Rangers manager Graeme Murty insists he is the natural successor to Scott Brown at international level.

Brown, who earned 55 caps, announced his retirement from the national team yesterday on Celtic’s website after discussions with returning Scotland boss Alex Mcleish over the weekend.

He had stepped down initially in 2016, but returned to play for Gordon Strachan in a bid to lead Scotland to Russia 2018. The 32-year-old now feels he cannot make the commitment due to the sheer volume of matches at club level

Murty feels Jack would be the perfect fit to take over from Brown as Mcleish rebuilds and tries to drive Scotland to qualification for Euro 2020, ending a barren run that stretches back to the World Cup in France in 1998.

He is also tipping Greg Docherty, Jamie Murphy and Jason Cummings to force their way into Mcleish’s plans.

Murty said: “Now Scott has gone there is a space in the for Scotland. That’s the level Greg needs to be looking at and aspire to be at. I have not seen anything in the young man’s attitude or ability to think anything different.”

Murty, who is seeking victory over St Johnstone in Perth tonight, is set to have talks with Mcleish, however, over potential call-ups for the controversial post-season games in Peru and Mexico.

He was capped in similar circumstances at the 2006 Kirin Cup but he will be reluctant to let players go, especially if Rangers, as expected, have