Scott Brown, the Celtic captain, is doubtful for both the visit to Motherwell tomorrow and the Europa League tie against Molde in Norway on Thursday night as a result of an injury he sustained at the club’s training complex yesterday.
The 30-year-old returned to Lennoxtown following the international break but the Scotland midfielder now faces an anxious wait before discovering whether he will be fit to participate in the first leg of the crucial double-header next week.
Ronny Deila will have a better idea today about the availability of the 30-year-old, whose absence would represent a significant loss in a match Celtic cannot afford to lose. “Scott twisted his ankle in a passing exercise,” the manager said. “He has done that many times. We won’t know before tomorrow if he is out for Saturday or not but it is not a major thing.
“He will be quickly back I think, but we will have to see tomorrow how big it is. When I saw him he had tape on both ankles. I think both have been twisted before many times. Then it should be easier for him to get back quicker.”
Deila, though, refused to be drawn on Brown’s availability to lead out his side in the Aker Stadion. “It is too early to say something about,” he said. “We have to assess him more tomorrow and see the reaction of the swelling.”
Advertisement
However, Deila insisted that he would not encourage his captain to retire from international football. “This is a decision he has to make,” he said. “Again, I will support him in whatever he wants to do. His body has shown that he is capable of playing a lot of games but, when the players are getting older, it’s a very tough club to be at because of the amount of games.”