The injured Celtic skipper took the trouble to commiserate with the players in the dressing room after the final whistle.

But when they regroup for the next games – against Wales in Cardiff on October 12 and Belgium four days later – Brown wants to be in the thick of the action.

He is keeping his fingers crossed the hip injury which ruled him out of the disappointing draws against Serbia and Macedonia will not prevent him jumping right back into the fray.

He said: "I hope I can be back for the next double-header. It all depends on how I go up to then in training and in games.

"If I can manage to get through them no bother, then, definitely, I'll be there."

Levein will welcome him back with open arms, the manager admitting the drive Brown brings to the team was sadly lacking in Scotland's opening World Cup qualifiers.

"I was at Hampden on Tuesday and thought we were unlucky," said Brown.

"We had a few chances, as they did.

"I don't think we're doing too badly, we're just not getting it over the finishing line.

"I wouldn't say it's four points dropped, I'd say it's more two points gained. We could've lost both games, so we are not sitting too badly."