Football: BROWN CAN MAKE MARK FOR SCOTS; SPL SPOTLIGHT.. Christie urges Smith to call keeper.

Byline: By Alasdai Fraser

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE boss Charlie Christie last night called for the inclusion of keeper Mark Brown in the Scotland squad.

Caley Thistle's 4-1 win at Motherwell on Saturday offered a stark contrast in goalkeeping fortunes that may not have escaped the attention of Walter Smith.

While the ever-impressive Inverness No.1 presented a picture of calmness at Fir Park, third-choice Scotland keeper Graeme Smith was found wanting in the Motherwell goal.

The issue of Brown's omission has certainly mystified Inverness staff. Like his club's supporters, Christie finds the issue baffling, having witnessed the 25-year-old's consistency and sporadic brilliance over the past two seasons.

Christie said: "The contrast between Brown and Graeme Smith was certainly the talk of a few people after Saturday's game.

"While Mark didn't have a huge amount to do, he made a couple of right good stops at important moments. And obviously, Graeme, at the other end, had a difficult time.

"After seeing the highlights, he did better for the first goal than I initially thought, although he got a fair bit of stick for it.

"He was actually under a fair bit of pressure from Darren Dods but, obviously, he made a bad mistake in misjudging one of Barry Wilson's corners.

"There is probably not a huge amount between them as Graeme is a bright young keeper with a good future.

"But Saturday does bring the issue to the fore and, if you look at Brown's shot-stopping statistics over the past 18 months, he'd certainly be ahead of Graeme, without doubt.

"My honest opinion is that Mark should be included in the Scotland squad. I see him on a daily basis and people should know how hard he works on his strengths and weaknesses.

"He's not the biggest of goalkeepers if you compare him to someone like Celtic's Artur Boruc but for shot-stopping and reaction saves he's as good as anyone in this country."

Inverness supporters would be happy to see Brown called up for next month's Group B double-header against Italy and Ukraine but their immediate wishes will be to see his long-term future sorted out at the Caledonian Stadium.

Christie hopes the former Rangers player's future will be clearer next month as he plans to use the international weekend on October 7 for talks with Brown on a new deal.

But should Christie's plea to national coach Smith be answered Brown may be a little too busy to talk new terms.

He will also try to coax new agreements out of the likes of Craig Dargo, Grant Munro, Graham Bayne and Roy McBain.

Having fended off immediate interest in some of his main assets before the closure of the last transfer window, Christie is trying to firm up his squad's longer-term future.

Clearly following success in securing Ian Black on a three-year deal, the other unsigned contracts are now a priority.

He said: "Mark is one who is out of contract next summer and myself and Graeme Bennett have already sat down with him to make an offer.

"Realistically, I would probably look to the next free international weekend in October to speak again, not just to Mark but to four or five others."

Christie revealed veteran Barry Wilson could be offered a new deal over the festive period which would take his stay up to summer 2008.

Of Saturday's man of the match, he said: "Barry is fighting for another year's contract and he's definitely on course."

CAPTION(S):

TALK OF THE BROWN: Inverness staff and supporters are baffled by their keeper's international exclusion' HIGH-FLYER: Brown has been consistently impressive for Caley Thistle