Celtic captain Scott Brown is still nifty at fifty ahead of Hampden return

But instead of leading his nation out in a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, the former national team skipper will instead content himself with a seat in the stand and a small token of what was once a major part of his career.

It was without doubt one of the hardest decisions of the midfielder’s career as he came to the conclusion that fighting a war on two fronts simply was not sustainable for a body he pushes to the limit on a weekly basis.

Since taking the decision to step away from the call of duty in August, Brown has enjoyed a renaissance at domestic level that many of his critics thought was perhaps beyond him.

Read more: Scott Brown targets winning home runs as key to Euro success

Scotland may have moved on and Brown has rediscovered the form that earned him the Celtic captaincy in the first place but, it doesn’t mean the 31-year-old’s affiliation with the national team has been cut to an end.

As he reflects on his call to quit Scotland, he insists there is no regrets ahead of a special night at the national stadium.

“No regrets, no,” said Brown. “It is helping me get the best out of my Celtic career now. It is pushing me onto another level now. It is giving me extra energy and that wee bit of rest time is definitely what I have been needing.

Read more: Scott Brown targets winning home runs as key to Euro success

“I am going along to collect my 50th cap so there is a wee presentation and a photograph and it will be nice to see the gaffer and see the boys.”

For long spells of last season’s domestic campaign, Brown looked off the pace at times with a Celtic team that was going through the motions under Ronny Deila on the way to another title.

Now invigorated by Brendan Rodgers, nights like the 3-3 draw with Manchester City last month will only serve to underline to Brown that he made the right decision, no matter how torn he was about the call.

Brown, who was speaking to Clyde One Superscoreboard, said: “There have been a lot of people who have doubted my decision but I know my body.

“I was playing extra games and pushing my body all the time but I think I am seeing the benefit of the rest time.

“Hopefully this can prolong my career by at least two or three years. I feel fresh and back to my old self with my energy levels high.

“I have been running around and looking after the kids. I am normally at Mar Hall this week with my feet up and getting my dinner made for me and coffee brought to me – but how times have changed!”

Brown is a man who is comfortable with where his career is at the moment.

Celtic are once again pulling away at the summit of the Ladbrokes Premiership and the former Hibs man has been an influential part of that, just as he was against Pep Guardiola’s side of superstars at Celtic Park.

He is also content with how things are progressing at Scotland without him. Gordon Strachan has already looked to blood fresh youngsters into his squad and the likes of John McGinn, Oliver Burke and Kieran Tierney have demonstrated the next batch of talent coming through can lead to a bright future for those in dark blue.

“The gaffer [Rodgers] has given me three or four days off and then we go into another hard month before another break – they are coming at good times for me just now,” said Brown.

“The future is looking bright for us. I do think you have to look at youth and in Gordon we have a fantastic manager who knows when to bring them in at the right time.”

While Brown will be at Hampden tomorrow night to collect a commerative 50th cap, the man who will be wearing the captain’s arm band in his place is also relishing the prospect of a special night.

Darren Fletcher will lead his country out against Lithuania and in the process receive his 75th cap 13 years after claiming his first.

“The team hasn’t been selected yet but it would be a great honour to get 75 caps,” he said.

Read more: Scott Brown targets winning home runs as key to Euro success

“It’s something I’m not thinking too much about to be honest, I’m more thinking about getting the three points against Lithuania and adding to our win against Malta.”

Brown’s retirement may have represented a changing back of the card with Fletcher skippering his country once again, and the new leader insists he is excited about what the future holds for a fresh-faced Scotland.

“You look around the squad, the manager has selection headaches in every position and although it’s tough for him, he’d probably want it that way,” Fletcher told the SFA website.

“It shows people are competing for places and when you have a tough campaign and pick up injuries, we have plenty of options.

“We are in a good place at the moment and hopefully we can show that on the pitch.

“It’s about giving them [the new players] a platform to perform and giving them small bits of advice when I can.

“We need them to express themselves, be creative and make a mark for themselves.

“They can let the older players take the pressure and the other stuff that goes on.”

Scott Brown was speaking in support of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign