Ankle injury threatens Brown with another spell on the sidelines

SCOTT Brown could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his persistent ankle injury flared up again yesterday, leaving his participation in Scotland’s final two European Championship qualifiers next month in serious doubt.

Manager Neil Lennon revealed the influential Celtic midfielder will have to be “shut down for a while” as the club’s medical team aim to discover the underlying reason for such a long-running complaint.

Brown was replaced by James Forrest after 74 minutes of yesterday’s dramatic Old Firm clash at Ibrox after he again fell victim to an ankle injury that has dogged his recent career. Strangely, it was left to Lennon to relay the bad news about his ankle even though Brown had preceded him into the media room following the final whistle.

The midfielder said he had managed to “hurt myself a little but hopefully it will be okay”.

This prognosis, according to Lennon, is wildly optimistic, news which count as a significant setback to both Celtic and Scotland. Brown was Celtic’s driving force in the first half yesterday as the visitors took a 2-1 lead. When he faded in the second half so, too, did Celtic.

“The ankle has gone again unfortunately,” revealed Lennon. “He [Brown] got us playing in the first half and he was influential in both our goals. It was a blow losing him. I don’t know how long he will be out. It looks like he will have to be shut down for a while so we can let it settle down and get it right.” Brown’s frustration was compounded by his team’s second-half capitulation. “It’s always frustrating, especially when we were in the driving seat,” said the captain. “It’s early in the season. There’s a lot still to play for.”

Asked whether Lennon was angry at the turnaround, Brown replied: “What do you think? We were winning 2-1 and got beat. He’s not going to be amused, is he?”