BARTON DOWN WIT’ THE KIDS: Joey Barton is to return to Rangers training tomorrow, but it won’t be with Mark Warburton’s side. The club released a statement today stating that the suspended midfielder would be allowed to return to training provided be follows “appropriate training arrangements”.
And it has since been widely reported that it will be with the Under-2os side, rather than the first team – presumably until the January transfer window opens and he will be able to negotiate a move away from the club.
It is highly unlikely he will face again for the Rangers first team, meaning he is just as likely to come up against Karamoko Dembele as he is Scott Brown.
SNODGRASS WEMBLEY BOOST: Following Scott Brown’s return to the Scotland camp, the national team have been given a second boost by the news that Robert Snodgrass – who looked certain to miss the game – could yet feature. The Hull City winger injured his ankle against Stoke last week and he was expected to be out for around four weeks. However, Gordon Strachan appears willing to take the risk on one of our most creative players, who is “desperate” to be involved.
Embed from Getty Images
DONS DUO NAMED IN IRELAND SQUAD: Jonny Hayes and Adam Rooney have been rewarded for strong starts to the season by being named in the Republic of Ireland provisional squad for next weekend’s qualifier against Austria. Hayes has been especially good this season and will hope to add to his two caps, while Adam Rooney will look to play a part in his first game for his country.
KRANJCAR CROCKED: Rangers have suffered yet another blow to a summer signing, with the news that Niko Kranjcar will almost certainly be out to the rest of the season. The 32-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament injury in training two weeks ago and will have to go under surgery that could keep him out for around six months.
Kranjcar was an example of Rangers’ much-criticised summer signing policy and has struggled to make an impact so far.
THEY SAID…
“It was funny when Griffiths called himself Shorty. I think that’s brilliant. Anything that makes people laugh – especially in the media – is tremendous, and really tongue in cheek.
“But can I really be involved in heightism? Let’s be fair.” (We may be in the middle of another low point as a national side, but at least Gordon Strachan can still have a laugh…)
“We need to make sure we win games like this Saturday’s because these are the big ones for us. It’s nice to go and beat your Aberdeens and other big teams but we need to make sure we start beating the teams around us in the table.” (Hamilton boss Martin Canning insists Kilmarnock at home is the kind of match they have to get three points in)
back4 