After the euphoria that greeted Scotland’s 1-0 win over Slovenia it’s time for Celtic to exert some influence on Scott Brown and bring a halt to his international career. Again.
Your country needs you is an outdated phrase.
Brown has more than did his bit for Scotland, since his return against England in November Celtic have developed Stuart Armstrong into an international player although it’s easy to put up a case for a Champions League player being superior to his international colleague.
The raw details are that Scotland play England on June 10, Celtic start pre-season training on the 19th and will be in a Champions League qualifier on July 11 or 12.
An eight day break is no break at all, getting an extra week or two off damages Celtic’s Champions League preparations. That has to be non-negotiable.
Celtic could probably get through the second qualifying round without Brown and a couple of others but from the get-go Rodgers needs to build a momentum that will take the club through four matches in consecutive midweeks to tee them up for the play-off round.
Having pre-season training at different stages isn’t ideal, Rodgers doesn’t want to have his captain out of sync with the bulk of his players, by definition the captain is a leader and example.
Brown and Celtic have more than did their bit for the ‘national cause’, the club owes the SFA and Scotland nothing.
Football is a business in 2017, Champions League football is vital to Celtic’s continued growth and development.
A number of Celtic players will have their season extended until June 10 on Scotland duty, they will have to catch up on pre-season training and may find their place under threat.
Alongside Kolo Toure, Leigh Griffiths and Craig Gordon, Brown was one of the drivers behind Celtic’s triumph over Hapoel Beer Sheva.
He’ll be vital again in July and August, Scotland should be grateful for his contribution to the win over Slovenia, it’s now time for Brown and Scotland to move on in separate directions.
