‘SCOT’ BROWN IS FIGHTING FIT

SCOTT BROWN has been given the green light to lead Scotland in this week’s internationals against Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Gibraltar on Sunday.

The Celtic skipper needed attention to his right ankle – which was already strapped up – during the first-half of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dundee United.

But Brown managed to see out the 90 minutes, and manager Ronny Deila was happy to report he is fit and raring to go for Scotland in the midweek friendly and the Euro 2016 qualifier four days later, with both games at Hampden.

James Forrest – who was left of the bench at the weekend – is also ready to resume his international career.

His exclusion was part of a carefully-managed return to peak fitness as the winger had played the full match against United in midweek and 20 minutes as a substitute the previous weekend in the League Cup Final.

Gordon Strachan will also be delighted at the form of Hoops keeper Craig Gordon, who has reported for Scotland duty with three consecutive clean sheets in a week behind him.

Many supporters at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon will have been surprised that both Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were not selected for Scotland – must be some team!