FORMER Celtic and Scotland striker Frank McAvennie believes the Parkhead club are right to wrap skipper Scott Brown in cotton wool until the start of the Champions League qualifiers.

The midfielder withdrew from Gordon Strachan's squad at the weekend and McAvennie insists both he and the club are correct in making his fitness is protected at all costs.

There was a suggestion that Brown may not be fit for the start of the new season, but it is more likely that his withdrawal has been a precaution.

And McAvennie reckons the player is more important to Celtic than coveted midfielder Victor Wanyama.

"Everyone talks about Victor and he is a smashing player, but I do think that Scott is even more important to Celtic," he said.

"He plays a captain's part and Celtic are a far different side with him in there than not.

"I think he'll be fine for the qualifying games, but it is absolutely the right thing to do to keep him resting now.

"The Celtic boys are only getting a three-week break and given the injury issues that Brown has had I think that if there is any doubt at all then there is no sense in risking him for a game that means nothing.

"I would be doing everything to make sure he is in the right place to go come the qualifiers. You only have to look at the Scottish Cup final last weekend to see what he gives Celtic – he was the stand out performer."

With the opportunity to qualify for Brazil next summer has long gone, the ex-Celtic forward believes players are well within their rights to look at what is the best for them – and that includes Kris Commons.

The Celtic midfielder was on the sharp end of Craig Brown's tongue after being snapped flying to Las Vegas with some Hoops team-mates after announcing his international retirement.

"If he wants to go for a break with a few of his mates and then come back and get a family break then that's fair enough," said McAvennie. "These guys have hardly any time off so why not?"