SHATTERED Celtic captain Scott Brown today admitted he desperately needs an extended break from competitive football – but has absolutely NO CHANCE of getting it.

Brown has struggled to produce his best performances for the Scottish champions since making his comeback from a two month injury lay-off at the end of January.

His slump in form has coincided with a patchy spell from Ronny Deila’s side – and agonising League Cup and Scottish Cup semi-final defeats to Ross County and Rangers respectively.

The all-action midfielder has played continuously since joining the Glasgow giants in a £4.4 million transfer from Hibs in 2007 and he reckons that has taken a toll on his body.

But the 30-year-old will make himself available for the Scotland friendlies against Italy and France in May and June - before starting his preparations for another Champions League qualifying campaign.

And he revealed he would only get a fortnight off in the summer before joining up with his Celtic team mates and their new manager for pre-season training.

Asked about his own play in the second half of the 2015/16 campaign as he helped to promote the International Champions Cup game between Celtic and Barcelona at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on July 30, he said: “It has probably not been the best. It could be a lot better.

“I am my own biggest critic and always put myself down. I think I could do better no matter when I am playing or where I am playing. I always believe I can run a wee bit harder, tackle a bit better or be more composed on the ball.”

“But I enjoy playing with Scotland. I enjoy going away. It means a lot to me as well. Gordon (Strachan) being there is great for me. Going along with him and training with him as well is great. These are two big games so it will be great to go along.

“But a rest is definitely needed as well. I have been here nine years and the longest holiday I have had is three weeks. Eventually it is going to take a toll on your body. You get aches and pains and you struggle to shake them off during the season.

“During international breaks and we are away training for 10 or 11 days. Other Premiership players have got six or seven days off to relax and recharge their batteries and we are never getting the opportunity to do that.”

“We will finish up with Scotland on June 5 and we will be back in at Celtic on about June 20. So I will get a solid 15 days off. I am really looking forward to them!

“I don’t want left out! F*** that! I might not get back in! No, as I say, I enjoy going along.. Gordon is a great coach. He has been great for me at Celtic and at Scotland. I enjoy every moment of training with him and playing games with him. It is great for me just to go along and see the lads.”

Brown was savaged by some Celtic supporters for his out-of-sorts showing in the penalty shoot out defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final – but he dismissed accusations that he is unfit.

“I’m not fit?” he said. “I still run the same distance that I do every game. I feel okay. I don’t think I have been performing as well. I think fitness isn’t a problem. I am still covering the same distance as I have been doing since I was 21.

“I am still doing not to bad there. It is just form. Form goes up and down and mine isn’t as good as it should be just now.”

Brown admitted that, after failing to secure a lucrative place in the Champions League group stages in the last two seasons, he was desperate to come back for pre-season in peak condition and help Celtic book a spot in Europe’s premier club competition.

“We have not done that well in the last couple of Champions League qualifying campaigns,” he said. “We have always fallen at the final hurdle. But hopefully this year, with fresh bodies and fresh faces, as well we can kick on and do it.”

Brown admitted that speculation about the future of Celtic manager Deila in recent months had impact on the team and denied his replacement would have to carry out major surgery on the squad to ensure domestic and European success.

“There is still enough quality,” he said. “We need to show a lot more. I think everyone knows we have let ourselves down recently. The way we have been playing has not been great. The fans have been on our back and quite rightly so. We need to try and get over the line.

“But there has been a lot of pressure on our shoulders with a lot of speculation about the gaffer. He has come out and said he is leaving at the end of the season. We have just got to kick on now and get across the line for him.

“I think it always affects you when there is talk about the manager going or staying. You wonder what’s happening.

“But that is life as a professional footballer. It is the same with a manager as well. You never know what is going to happen down the line. Every game could be your last. Sadly for Ronny he is leaving at the end of the season. He made that decision. Now we need to get the trophy for him.”