MOSCOW: Spartak Moscow`s Brazilian forward Welliton, who wants to play for the Russian national team, has gone to the top of the league scoring charts, courtesy of an extraordinary six-minute hat-trick.

Welliton, born in balmy northern Brazil, has a real chance of making the Russian squad after rules on foreign stars taking up Russian citizenship were relaxed.

In Saturday`s match against Tomsk, Welliton produced a classic hat-trick in just six minutes for his second consecutive treble to take his season`s tally to 13.

"It`s the first time in my life I made hat-tricks in two consecutive matches," Welliton said.

"I just found out that my last one became the fastest in the Russian football history. I had no intention of setting any records but it`s a pleasant fact for me."

Welliton was the league`s top scorer last season with 21 goals and if his ambition is realised, he would become the first footballer born outside the former Soviet Union to represent Russia.

The 23-year-old, who started his career with his home club Goias, was signed by Spartak in 2007 and had scored 31 goals in 50 matches for the Moscow club before the start of this season.

Together with his compatriots Alex and Ibson, Welliton is a key player but Russia national coach Dick Advocaat has yet to switch his attention to the Brazilian.

The country`s football experts regard Welliton as a great potential asset for the Russian squad, saying a partnership with Arsenal`s Andrei Arshavin could lift the national team to a higher level.

"I believe Welliton is capable of strengthening the Russian team`s attack," said Spartak Moscow veteran Miroslav Romashchenko.

"He is currently the the best forward in the Russian league. Advocaat has been repeatedly saying that he prefers to play with two forwards, one small and one tall. Welliton is now the best possible choice for the role of small forward."

Russian legislation allows Welliton, who has lived in Russia for more than three years, to join the country`s squad any time if he is selected while public opinion is also on his side.

Spartak started this season unconvincingly, but lately Russia`s most successful side have managed to improve, while Welliton showed that he was still hungry for goals.

"We were in a period of bad luck, sometimes it happens," Welliton said.

"I believe that if you keep working day by day and try to improve the situation, fortune will once again turn its better side on you."

BDST: 1428HRS, August 27, 2010