Brown kicks sideshows to touch and talks up Scots

Scott Brown laid down the ground rules early.

He was not there to talk about Aiden McGeady or Roy Keane, or any of the other sideshows that had demanded so much attention this week. Even a query about Robbie Keane’s time with Celtic prompted a face like a child asked to do chores.

Brown opened up when the subject matter centred closer to home. After too many years of disappointment and disaster, Scotland are again showing signs of life thanks to the restorative presence of Gordon Strachan. As with Ireland and Martin O’Neill (and Roy Keane), the impression of Scotland is that most of the star wattage is on display in the dugout rather than on the pitch, but the Celtic player sees it differently.