Scott Brown ends International career for second time

Celtic captain Scott Brown has announced his retirement from international football, for the second time.

The 32-year-old initially ended his Scotland career in August 2016 but overturned the decision two months later.

Brown has called it a day again after talks with Alex McLeish, who has succeeded Gordon Strachan as team boss.

The midfielder, who earned 55 caps, blamed a packed football calendar: "In terms of looking after my own body and in interests of my family, I felt now is the right time.

"I have spoken to Alex McLeish over the weekend. I really wanted to tell Alex first what I was thinking about things.

"As I said to Alex, I felt that, given the demands which are increasing all the time in football and at this stage of my career, I wasn't able to give both my club and country my best and I needed to focus purely on Celtic at this time.

"The football calendar is more and more demanding now."

Dunfermline-born Brown started his career with Hibernian and made his Scotland debut five months before his 2007 transfer to Celtic.