Ballycool at Cartmel

Lucinda Russell’s recent Bangor winner Ballycool reappears for the Kinross trainer in the 3.30pm at Cartmel today. Midfielder Robert Snodgrass is optimistic about his chances of making Scotland’s opening World Cup qualifier, despite a painful collision with a goalpost.

Both Snodgrass and Leigh Griffiths will be assessed for injuries when they report for international duty ahead of Sunday’s game in Malta.

Snodgrass suffered a leg injury after colliding with a goalpost during Hull’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday, while Griffiths went off with a hamstring complaint during Celtic’s 4-1 victory againstAberdeen. TheHull player said: “In future I can’t tackle goalposts, there is only one winner.”

Snodgrass was replaced in the 48th minute by Shaun Maloney, who was left out of Gordon Strachan’s squad due to a lack of playing time. Griffiths came off after an hour at Parkhead after netting his seventh goal of the season. The Celt said: “I’ll go away with Scotland and see the physio there.”

Strachan’s other three attackers, Steven Fletcher, Chris Martin, and Steven Naismith, played in the Championship but only the latter has scored this term, bagging one for Norwich.

Strachan’s preferred centre backs, Russell Martin and Newcastle’s Grant Hanley, both sat on the bench throughout their teams’ Championship games. Norwich player Martin has not featured in the league this season. Christophe Berra started for Ipswich, while Gordon Greer made his sixth appearance for Blackburn.

There is more concern for Strachan about game time for midfielder Ikechi Anya, who has had only nine minutes in Watford’s first three league games. Nottingham Forest midfielder OliverBurkepushed his claims for a starting place with his fourth goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Leeds. The 19-yearold ended the weekend as a Red Bull Leipzig player, though, making a £13million switch yesterday.