Grant sets sights on a full house with goal at Gretna

THE veteran striker Roddy Grant will make Scottish football history tomorrow if he scores for Peterhead against Gretna in the Third Division.

If he finds the net at Raydale Park, Grant, 37, will become the first player to score against all 42 league clubs in Scotland.

Only Gretna, who were admitted to the Scottish Football League last year, stand between Grant and the remarkable achievement, clocked up over a 17-year career which began with a trainee-ship at Cowdenbeath in 1986.

In two spells at St Johnstone, he managed to breach every Premier side’s defence, including Rangers’ and Celtic’s.

Grant, who has also had stints with Dunfermline, Partick, Ayr and Brechin, said: "Gretna are the only side in Scotland I have not scored against. I must admit it would be nice to finally do it; it would be something to look back on after my playing career is over and a real honour.

"In the last games against Gretna there hasn’t actually been any near things or chances to score. But I am not going to snatch at shots or try and create openings in the wrong areas - if the chance comes it comes, and we will just have to wait and see what happens.

"At the end of the day, I know we have to play them another two times this season so there could be other opportunities."

Robbie Stockdale was thrown an international lifeline yesterday when the Scotland defender became the first signing of West Ham’s new manager Alan Pardew.

Stockdale, who had found himself relegated to the reserves at Middlesbrough following the arrival of right-back Danny Mills on loan, has joined West Ham on a month’s loan in an attempt to secure regular first-team football and win a permanent transfer.

The 23-year-old, who played for the Scotland Future team in the 1-0 defeat to Germany at Pittodrie on Tuesday, will come into contention for his debut against Cardiff this weekend.

Dundee midfielder Georgi Nemsadze could miss Sunday’s meeting with Dundee United at Tannadice because of recurring knee problem.

Elsewhere, Hibernian defender Gary Smith could be set for a return to first-team action at Dundee a week tomorrow after recovering from an appendix operation.

The former Aberdeen player was rushed to hospital last month after complaining of feeling unwell. However, Smith has now returned to training and will play in an under-21 game at Kilmarnock on Monday.

Celtic’s young central defender Stephen Low was yesterday handed the captain’s armband to lead Scotland in the European Youth Championship. The Scots open their bid to progress to the finals tomorrow when they meet the Faroe Islands in their opening game at Somerset Park in their four-country qualifying section. The Scots follow up by facing Turkey on Monday and Macedonia on Wednesday.

TONIGHT. Nationwide Football League: Division 1: Sheffield United v Reading (7.45).