Scott Brown: Decision to quit Scotland was heartbreaking but I did it to save my Celtic career

The Parkhead captain retired from international duty last week because he feared the toll of Scotland call-ups would take on his body.

Brown will lead out Celtic in Israel tonight in their Champions League second leg qualifier against Hapoel Be’er Sheva with an eye-watering £22million jackpot at stake.

Read more: Strachan: Brown's legacy will boost Scotland's World Cup qualifying bid

And the midfield enforcer believes his decision will help him prolong his Parkhead career for many more seasons.

“The big thing for me quitting Scotland is it’s probably put another couple of years on my Celtic career,” said Brown.

“I’ve got two years left on my deal right now and the way I feel I can see myself at Celtic until I am 35 or 36 - maybe even longer.

Read more: Scott Brown: Hardest thing was letting down Gordon Strachan

“If I continued playing with Scotland it would, maybe not drain me, but it would have an impact on my performances for Celtic. The seasons are getting longer each year. A couple of years ago we only had two weeks off - if you can call it that because you never switch off.

“You’ve got Scotland games on the 9th or 10th of June and then you’re back with Celtic for the Champions League qualifiers a few weeks later.

“It’s incredible for any player. The seasons are getting longer but it’s not like my career is getting longer, especially if I kept that up.

“I think it was a wise decision. I can focus just one Celtic now. In my mind all I am thinking about is prolonging my Celtic career.”

Brown admitted he was worried about what Gordon Strachan’s reaction when he eventually called the Scotland manager to tell him that he was putting Celtic over the international call of duty.

He said: “I tried to call Gordon about eight times but I kept pushing that red button on my phone. I was thinking, 'what’s he going to say?’

"Is he going to go off on one? As soon as I managed to make the call I told him what I was thinking and he understood my decision 100 percent.

“He said, ‘I’ll miss you but you have to focus on yourself and what you need to do and try to push on as long as you can.’ He didn’t try to talk me out of it. He knows I am a very stubborn person when my mind is made up.

“I knew my mind was made up after having that five weeks off and feeling the best I’ve felt in a couple of years. He knew there was no going back.”

Brown, who has began the season superbly, feels Celtic will see the best of him now he will get time off during the season.

He said: “For me, you have to play Saturday/Wednesday weeks in a row up to Christmas and doing double sessions when you are away with Scotland. You are away from your family and friends.

“It’s hard on your body more than anything so at my age it’s the right time to call it a day.

“Especially with Brendan Rodgers coming in and the way we have been playing.

"We are pressing so high up the park and it takes a lot of energy, I need to try to rebuild and it had to be one of the other so it had to be Scotland that had to go.

“These are exciting times at Celtic just now and we’re playing the way I like to play.

“We press high up the park and we’re all working hard. For me to keep pushing my body like that for Scotland and Celtic, one of these times it would’ve been an injury that pushed me too far. I didn’t want to do that.”

Brown has played more European games for Celtic than any other player and is desperate to bring the Champions League nights back to Parkhead.

And he and his team-mates should do that in Israel this evening.

He said: “I think if you look at the game last Wednesday, the fans the stadium, the whole place was bouncing again. We want to bring that back.

“The gaffer’s done as much as he can, helping the fans come along and supporting the lads as much as he possibly can – but now it’s our turn to step up and do our bit.”