Snodgrass hopes goalpost does not rule him out of World Cup qualifier

Robert Snodgrass is optimistic over 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 while Griffiths went off with a hamstring complaint during Celtic's 4-1 victory over Aberdeen.

The Hull winger wrote on Instagram: "Gutted had to go off, but in future I can't tackle goalposts there is only one winner, and gutted for the lads they gave everything. See how the quad is over the next few days but hope to be ok for the international duty."

Snodgrass was replaced in the 48th minute by Shaun Maloney, who was left out of Gordon Strachan's squad because of a lack of playing action.

Griffiths came off just before the hour mark at Parkhead after netting his seventh goal of the season.

The 26-year-old said: "I've been struggling with my hamstring a bit. I'll go away with Scotland and see the physio there. I always want to play for my country, I don't want to let anyone down."

The other three strikers in Strachan's squad - Steven Fletcher, Chris Martin, and Steven Naismith - all played in the Sky Bet Championship but only the latter has scored this season, 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 - the former has not featured in the league this season. Christophe Berra started for Ipswich while Gordon Greer made his sixth appearance for bottom club Blackburn.

There is more concern for Strachan over game time for Ikechi Anya, who has only had nine minutes of action in Watford's first three Premier League games.

But winger Oliver Burke pushed his claims for a starting place with his fourth goal of the season in Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win over Leeds. The 19-year-old ended the weekend as a Red Bull Leipzig player, though, making a shock switch on Sunday.