Club and country compete for Brown

ALEX FERGUSON could be on a Euro 2004 collision course with Sven-Goran Eriksson after declaring Wes Brown will need a rest this summer.

Only three weeks ago, much to Ferguson’s annoyance, Brown was being blamed for Manchester United’s demise in the Premiership and the Champions League.

Since then impressive back-to -back performances against Arsenal, coupled with Gareth Southgate’s knee ligament injury, have propelled Brown into the England frame, even though he has suffered a second ruptured cruciate ligament since he won the last of his seven international caps against Australia in February last year.