BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
SCOTLAND’S hopes of stunning England at Wembley have been dealt a hammer-blow after talisman Robert Snodgrass was ruled out of the clash against the Auld Enemy.
The 29-year-old suffered an ankle knock during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Stoke and has been diagnosed with ligament damage.
Medical staff at Hull expect the former Livingston forward to miss around a month of action, meaning he will be absent for the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Three Lions on November 11.
It is another major set-back for Gordon Strachan, who has already seen Andrew Robertson, Snograss’s teammate at the KC Stadium, sidelined for the encounter in London.
A statement from the Tigers confirmed: “Scans have confirmed that Robert Snodgrass sustained ankle ligament damage during Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Stoke City.
“The Scottish international is expected to be ruled out for up to four weeks.”
Snodgrass’s importance to the national team was underlined with a hat-trick in Scotland’s opening qualifier against Malta, inspiring Strachan’s side to a 5-1 win.
The gifted forward has also been a standout at club level, bagging four goals for Hull City despite the Tigers’ stuttering form.
Scotland currently sit in fourth place in World Cup qualification Group 4, albeit only three points behind section leaders England. Nevertheless a meagre return of one point from matches against Lithuania and Slovakia have made the trip to Wembley a must-win fixture.
