Brown has Ferguson doubts March 27 2008
Former Scotland boss Craig Brown believes Barry Ferguson's days as an automatic choice for the national team could be coming under threat.
The Celtic pair of Scott Brown and Paul Hartley started in central midfield for Scotland as regular captain Ferguson missed the 1-1 friendly draw against Croatia on Wednesday night through injury.
The 30-year-old is expected to be available for the May 30 international against the Czech Republic, and although he is likely to come back into the team, Brown believes new Scotland head coach George Burley will have been impressed by his first midfield combination.
Burley had to cope with seven withdrawals from his squad on Monday, with Ferguson among four Rangers players ruled out by injury.
But Brown told BBC Radio Scotland: "I said before the match that, of the seven named call-off players, I don't think any more than two would be first-choice players anyway.
"He will obviously have to consider the reintroduction of the captain Barry Ferguson, but of the others, I think they'll have to fight for their places.
"The two central midfield players, Brown and Hartley, did very well, so even Barry might find it difficult to be an automatic selection."
The 67-year-old, the last man to lead the Scots to a major finals - the 1998 World Cup - was encouraged by the performance and the outcome.
"I thought it was very impressive," Brown said. "Obviously there was a bit of hesitancy at the start but after the first 15 minutes I thought Scotland played exceptionally well.
"And everyone is full of praise regarding the calibre of the Croatian side so I think it is a significant result for George."