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Glowing tribute to Gillingham keeper

JASON BROWN: strong personality
JASON BROWN: strong personality

GOALKEEPER Jason Brown will be looking to impress the Wales selectors even further when he plays for Gillingham at Reading in Division 1 on Tuesday night (October 14).

The 21-year-old has been in good form for the Gills in recent months and has been tipped to have a bright future by Welsh under-21 boss Jimmy Shoulder.

Before playing his seventh, and last, appearance for Wales under-21s against Serbia and Montenegro on Friday night, Shoulder maintained Brown was one of the fewer youngsters with a realistic chance of progressing into the full international squad.

He said: “Jason has a strong personality. He is an ebullient character, larger than life and someone who has played regularly at Division 1 level. If you are playing at the highest level possible then the chances are your career will develop quicker.

“Brown has learned how to make the best use of what he has. He’s no six-footer, but he’s the one technically and mentally who can go further. He can go on to make a career for himself with the seniors.”

The Gillingham goalkeeper, who recently won the Wales Young Player of the Year, did his harms of a full international call-up little harm with a strong performance against Serbia.

Although he was slightly at fault for the only goal when he dropped a cross at goalscorer Igor Matic’s feet, Brown made a string of excellent stops including a penalty save from just before half-time.

With a European Championship play-off coming up, Brown’s hopes of being involved in the full squad might also have been helped by an indifferent display from Paul Jones in Saturday’s full game.

The Welsh first choice keeper, who has been told he can leave Southampton once the transfer window opens in January, let in a soft opening goal in the 3-2 home defeat against Serbia.

Another Gills player hoping to make a positive impression at Reading is Nicky Southall, as the midfielder returns after an ankle injury.

After playing in the reserves’ 8-0 win over Aldershot last week, Southall has his eye on returning to the starting line-up in time to face his former club Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup on October 28.

Southall said: “I'm taking one day at a time but I hope to make the bench for the Reading game and ideally I want to start at Wigan before preparing for the trip to Bolton.”

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