SCOTT BROWN is the latest Scotland casualty ahead of the games in Austria and the Faroe Islands.

After being unveiled today as Celtic's latest £4.4m signing, the midfielder headed for a meeting with the Scotland medical team.

Brown will have a knee injury checked, but he expects to withdraw from Wednesday's friendly in Vienna and, more worryingly, next week's Euro 2008 qualifier in Toftir.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has already confirmed striker Kenny Miller's hope for a miracle recovery from a hamstring injury has not materialised, and the damage has been diagnosed as serious.

And defender Steven Pressley is also struggling after injuring his back in the Scottish Cup Final.

With James McFadden already out - and Garry O'Connor drafted in as striker cover - the news of Brown, who made such an impact against Italy in Bari in March, is a severe blow to boss Alex McLeish.

Brown said: "I've got tendonitis in my right knee. I think it is just through playing on hard grounds, and it gets a bit tender.

"I will go and see the Scotland physio to hear what he has to say, but it is not looking good.

I'm not sure if I will be out for both games. I will find out later. It's a big disappointment because I feel fit and want to be playing."

It is the one cloud on Brown's horizon as he settles into life as a Celt. As he took possession of the No. 8 shirt, he said there had never been any danger of him going anywhere else after he had spoken to Strachan and chief executive Peter Lawwell.

That included moving to Rangers, despite their bid for him in January and many pundits claiming a gentleman's agreement was in place to reunite him with best pal Kevin Thomson.

Brown said: "If a deal was done, why would I now be at Celtic? There was nothing whatsoever. I've never spoken to anyone at Rangers."

Brown was also accused of lacking ambition by rejecting the Premiership, but he claimed his sights are set even higher - on the Champions League.

He said: "I never considered the Premiership. When I spoke to Peter and Gordon, that was my mind made up. I wanted to join Celtic.

"This a good club, who have just won the SPL again and lifted another cup and made it to the Champions League last 16. You can't say no to them."

He added: "I'll bring to the side hunger and desire. I want to show why the manager has paid the money he has by playing and scoring goals and hopefully getting past the last 16 of the Champions League.

"I also want to play for Scotland as many times as possible."