Celtic stars set to skip Scotland international duty

Celtic’s Scotland stars are set to skip the planned international summer tour, according to the Daily Mail.

Skipper Scott Brown is at the front of the queue, as he looks to back a campaign to give footballers four weeks off per year.

Summer friendlies against Peru and Mexico have been arranged, but Celtic’s Scottish contingent could well look to miss them.

This news comes soon after Chris Davies, assistant manager to Brendan Rodgers, said players were at risk of being burnt out thanks to a schedule that covers nearly all 12 months of the year.

Davies expressed his desire for the Scottish PFA to see sense over taking players across the globe in order to extend what’s an already lengthy season.

I am confident that we can work together and make sure we are doing the right thing. A bit of common sense. The players can’t play the 12 months non-stop, that’s for sure. We don’t want our players burnt out by non-stop football.

There is always this club/country situation but, hopefully, we can come to a situation that suits us. You can only assume that they have their reasons for picking that. I don’t know exactly why but I am not in their organisation.

Speaking about the issues, captain Brown said:

Last year, I got six days off. I’ve had a winter break in Dubai and people might think of the break — but we got battered every day in training.

It’s about keeping our bodies going and two weeks isn’t long enough for the young lads, people like Kieran Tierney.

Momentum will get him through pretty much whatever, but he needs rest, he needs recovery, he needs time away from football just to go and enjoy his life.

Celtic will begin their European campaign just a matter of weeks after the final of the two arranged Scotland friendlies.

It remains to be seen whether these games will be skipped, but for the good of the Hoops’ chances, it certainly makes a lot of sense on paper.