'Free week' for Scott Brown as Celtic manage captain's hip injury

Scott Brown will sit out Celtic's League Cup tie with Raith Rovers as the club manage his hip injury.

The midfielder played in all three of his side's games in the last week, against St Johnstone, Benfica and Dundee, despite the problem which has also limited his involvement in training.

Celtic return to Champions League action in eight days time when they travel to face Spartak Moscow and Lennon says the return to fitness of other players will allow him to rest his captain.

"It's not a question of picking and choosing," said the manager. "We feel it is an opportunity to give him a free week.

"We should have enough cover with the likes of [Efe] Ambrose coming in and the other two guys [Ledley and Kayal] coming back to fitness.

"There's a lot of games coming up in the coming weeks and it's an opportunity to give him a rest. He needs rest after three games in a week anyway."

Brown is also keen to be fit to play for Scotland in their upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifying double header with Wales and Belgium, having sat out games with Serbia and Macedonia.

"We will try and base his programme around playing for us and making sure he is fit for Scotland as well," Lennon added.

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