Scott Brown could opt out of Scotland squad for Dutch clash

Scott Brown is unlikely to be included when Malky Mackay names his Scotland squad tomorrow for next month’s friendly international against the Netherlands at Pittodrie.

The Celtic captain was disappointed to see the SFA dispense with Gordon Strachan following the national side’s failure to reach the play-offs for next summer’s World Cup finals and is considering his international future.

Mackay, the SFA’s performance director, has been placed in interim charge for the Dutch match on 9 November as the search goes on for a new manager.

Brown has already stepped away from the Scotland team once before returning for the second half of the last qualifying campaign.

His club manager, Brendan Rodgers, claims Brown had yet to make a final decision. Asked if his his captain had decided, Rodgers replied: “Not really, no. I said to Scott that for me he doesn’t need to decide now. There’s a friendly fixture, so he doesn’t need to rush into any decision now and after that the next [friendly] games are March and then September [for competitive games], so he’s got time.

“I had a good chat with Malky and suggested it would be good for him to speak with Brownie. Brownie’s got good experience of the level and knows the players well and it’s good for Scott to hear Malky because Malky is a good man and trying to do things the right way so, yeah, get both of them together and talk over where they want to go really.

Rodgers believes it might be beneficical for Brown to sit out the Dutch friendly. “It depends,” the Celtic manager said. “I told him to have a chat with Malky. For Malky as well, there’s maybe an opportunity to have a look at some other players. It will be between the two of them to talk it through.”

He added: “I have an opinion on it but all the Scottish boys want to play for Scotland, that’s clear and one of the things I love about the Scottish boys up here.”