BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Scott Brown’s loyalty to Gordon Strachan was the reason for bringing him out of international retirement after just two months.
The 31-year-old is poised to be selected in Strachan’s Scotland squad next week as the national side prepare to take on England at Wembley on November 11 in their World Cup qualifier.
Brown spoke earlier this week about his close bond with the very person who brought him to Celtic in 2007, citing their relationship as the reason he did not leave Parkhead for England. Now his current manager has explained how Brown expressed his desire to pull on a dark blue shirt once more to help out Strachan as Scotland sit with just one win after three games in Group F.
“Right now he sees his country stuck with some injuries and also a man he has huge admiration for, in Gordon Strachan, going through the mill a wee bit,” said Rodgers. “You have to admire that in someone.
“So he’s made himself available for this game, to help them out if he’s selected, and I think there’s no doubt about it; I’ll be at the game myself and I know that Scotland will be a better team with Scott Brown playing in it.
“I think it’s just for this game. He has made himself available if Gordon needs him.
“Gordon is someone that brought him to the club, someone he has huge admiration for.
“The type of man that Scott is, he wouldn’t like to see people that he is loyal to stuck, and I totally respect that.
“So it helps Gordon in this game, then hopefully he comes back to Celtic and continues with the great form he has been in.”
Rodgers witnessed his team claim a 1-0 away win over Aberdeen yesterday with a Tom Rogic strike doing the damage. However, they managed it without the presence of young left-back Kieran Tierney, who will not return until after Christmas as he gets set to go under the knife after sustaining an ankle injury.
“Sadly he will probably miss the next couple of months,” said the Celtic manager. “It’s going to be after Christmas that he comes back.
“I’m devastated for him because he’s a young player with so much maturity and quality. He’s been improving with all the games he’s played. It’s sad for Scotland as well.
“But Kieran is the type who will come back better and stronger.””
Ahead of their Champions League game with Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday, Rodgers rested centre-half Kolo Toure who is a doubt after suffering a grade one strain.
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