Celtic skipper Scott Brown reaping rewards of Scotland retirement
Thursday 6 October 2016 18:12, UK
Celtic skipper Scott Brown believes he has already justified his decision to call time on his Scotland career with his starring display against Manchester City.
The Hoops midfielder was back to his energetic best during the 3-3 draw at Celtic Park, just a month after he announced his decision to concentrate on his club career.
The 31-year-old, who has wrestled with ankle, hip and hamstring issues in recent years, feared the toll of turning out for both club and country was threatening his place in Brendan Rodgers' line-up.
Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish was one of many to question his decision to retire at 50 caps but Brown insists he is already benefiting from the lesser workload, adding it could add another three years to his time with the Scottish champions.
Speaking at a Show Racism The Red Card event in Glasgow, Brown said: "Calling it a day with Scotland is helping me with my Celtic career right now. It's keeping me on track and pushing me to new levels. It's giving me the little bit of extra energy and the extra bit of rest time I was definitely needing.
"I think my performance against Manchester City proves I was right to make that decision. A lot of people have doubted my judgement but I knew what was best for my body.
"The extra games I was playing I could only manage 80 per cent of what I was capable of. I went through them all for as long as I possibly could.
"But it came to the point I had to make a decision and I thought it was better to make it at the start of a campaign rather than halfway through one. Hopefully I've added a good two or three years to my career at least. I'm feeling fresh and back to my old self. My energy levels are going through the roof again."
Scotland got the post-Brown era off to the perfect start as they kicked off their 2018 World Cup bid with a 5-1 romp away to Malta last month.
Gordon Strachan's squad will now hope to build momentum to take them all the way to Russia when they face Lithuania at Hampden on Saturday.
Brown will take some time off from babysitting to watch his former team-mates in action - but he admits his new routine is not all child's play.
"It feels a bit strange not to be involved with the team this week," he said. "I'm in the house watching the kids when I'm used to being at Mar Hall lying with my feet up, chilling, getting my dinner made for me and coffees brought to me.
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"How times have changed. I'll be at the game on Saturday though. I'm going along to collect my 50th cap. I've got a little presentation and need to get a couple of pictures taken. It will be good to see the gaffer and all the boys as well."
Brown was speaking as Show Racism the Red Card launched their Fortnight of Action with a charity match in Glasgow. For more information go to theredcardscotland.org.
