SCOTT Brown has revealed that he told Brendan Rodgers he might only be able to play on for another six months after the Northern Irishman was appointed Celtic manager last summer.

Brown has been in sensational form for the Parkhead club, who finished their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign undefeated with a 2-0 triumph over Hearts at home on Sunday, during the 2016/17 season.

He is now looking to make more history by captaining the Glasgow club to victory in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday and securing a domestic treble.

The 31-year-old is also optimistic he will be able to perform at the top level with both his club and country – who take on England in a crucial Russia 2018 qualifier on June 10 - for at least another four years thanks to Rodgers.

However, the midfielder, who was dogged by both injuries and poor form last season, has admitted that he was fearful that his playing days were nearing an end when the 44-year-old arrived.

The Celtic captain travelled to London to meet the former Swansea City and Liverpool manager at his home and he was candid about his concerns for the future after a gruelling campaign.

He said: “The first thing he asked me was: ‘How long do you think you can keep playing?’ My first reaction was: ‘After last season I might not make six months!’ “He asked me how long I could play at the top level with Celtic and I said maybe two more seasons maximum.

“He told me it was a fresh start and it was good for me that I knew that. I had six weeks off and I was feeling better about myself. It was nice to get a holiday.

“But I didn’t know how I’d be. Going into pre-season I broke down a couple of times. There’s always a doubt when you get a niggle right away. You hope that it’s not going to be one thing after another.

“I’d had seven weeks rest and then went straight into training. I can’t do anything less than operate flat out and I was trying to impress and it didn’t really work out. But slowly I got better.

“Apart from the first week, I’ve trained just about every session and featured in most of the games apart from a few recent suspensions.

“It suited me that he wanted a high pressing game and wanted everyone fit.

“That’s pretty much my game – to get the ball and give others the ball to make things happen.

“All he asked was that I tried my best and that’s what I’m still doing now. Now I feel I can go on for four or more as long as I’m enjoying my football and playing with a smile on my face.”

Brown was yesterday named in the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifier with Gareth Southgate’s side at Hampden next month – and he is positive he can perform better for Gordon Strachan’s team in that crucial fixture than he did when he made his international comeback in London where the Scots were beaten 3-0.

“I feel in better shape now that I was back in November at Wembley,” he said “I dived in at the deep end, didn’t I?

“I love going away with Scotland and it’s an honour to captain your country, especially against England at Wembley.

“But it will be a different story at Hampden.

“We will have a different team now as well – the manager has chopped and changed a wee bit. England are top quality but we showed we can play at Wembley and we need to do that early on at Hampden to get the crowd on our side.”