Jefferies hints at Brown stay

Kilmarnock boss impressed with on-loan keeper

Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jefferies hints at Brown stay

Brown: Has done well at Killie

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Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies has sung the praises of on-loan keeper Mark Brown, saying he will try to keep him if Alan Combe remains injured.

Brown has put in sterling performances between the sticks since Jefferies brought in the Celtic shot-stopper at the start of the season to cover for the injured Combe.

While his loan period ends in January, Jefferies may move to keep him at Rugby Park beyond this - but any deal depends on whether Combe recovers from his hip problems.

Jefferies, who also has Cammy Bell and Lee Robinson to choose from, told the Daily Record: "We have three keepers here under contract and the most experienced is Alan who we felt was going to be out until at least early January.

May extend

"We tied Mark up on loan until the second week in January. If Alan is not going to be making it back by then I may have to extend that if I can.

"Celtic might not allow it or someone might come in and buy Brown. That is something we will only be able to address at the time.

"But obviously if Alan is not fit I'd like to keep Mark. If Alan is fit he's our keeper and Mark will go back to Celtic.

"However, Alan is not back on the training pitch yet so I won't have to think about the problem until Mark's loan period is up.

"He has done extremely well for us and if I need an experienced keeper I wouldn't hesitate to make a move to get him.

Great lad

"He's a great lad and an even better keeper than I thought he was. He's been very sound.

"We also have Cammy who has proved himself. But if I need to get someone in I would speak to Celtic and try to extend it."

Even if Brown does return to Celtic in January, Jefferies has not ruled out a move for the keeper at a later date.

He added: "Mark's out of contract at the end of this season. Alan is 35 and still has a few years left but how he recovers from his injury is another obstacle for him.

"I'm sure it will be all right but if there was going to be a long-term problem we now know Mark is one guy who could come in and we'd have that confidence of knowing he had been here and done well."