Kruger injury deals Greenock blow as they look to kick-start season

BOTTOM of the table Greenock have been dealt another blow ahead of this afternoon's home clash with SNCL Premier Division leaders Grange with the news promising newcomer Courtney Kruger will be missing for a month.

The Hong Kong internationalist had made a decent start to his career in Scotland before dislocated his finger in the defeat to Carlton last weekend. He will be replaced in the line-up by Keiran Begley and it is just the latest headache for skipper Kevin McLaren, who is also without Scotland man Richie Berrington today.

The 2007 champions have so far gone down to Clydesdale, Aberdeenshire and Carlton in what was always going to be a tough season after so many high profile players moved on over the winter.

Ahead of the leaders' visit McLaren said: "Courtney has started well for us, and he is gutted to be missing out on a home debut. It has been a tough start, but I have been pleased with the guys' application.

"Grange are always a tough team to play against and they have been flying over the past few weeks. We will have to dig in against them, apply ourselves properly once again and see where it gets us."

One pleasing aspect of the eight-wicket loss at Carlton seven days ago was the 60 not out hit by teenager Alex Baum batting at number seven. While delighted with the 16-year-old's efforts McLaren will resist the urge to move Baum up the batting order though.

Grange head for Glenpark with experienced campaigners Stuart Davidson and Stuart Moffat back in the team.

They are, however, still without a pro with their efforts at trying to get someone in to replace injured Kiwi Warren McSkimming thwarted this week.

Captain Sanjay Patel – fresh from playing for an MCC Select at Lords this week – was delighted with the effort his stand-in players put in last week to help defeat Watsonians and he is pleased with the way South African spinner Iain Worth has settled in.

"Iain just turned up at the club and he fitted in really well and (has] given us more strength in the bowling and batting departments. Micky Thomas, who played a few top team matches last summer, has also been performing well opening the bowling in the first few weeks," said Patel.

Elsewhere in the top flight today the two promoted sides – Dunfermline Knights and Forfarshire – meet at McKane Park.

They have both adjusted really well to life in the Premier Division, sitting third and second. In the corresponding fixture in the First Division last June the Knights won by six wickets, Alistair Gray and Marshall Bunting both hitting half centuries that day.

Both of them will be key once again for the home side this afternoon while young batsman Craig Wallace has been impressing so far for Forfarshire with 193 runs in three innings to sit third in the batting standings.

Aberdeenshire have been in good form with wins over Greenock and Clydesdale and unsurprisingly captain Neil Macrae names an unchanged line-up for the visit of Uddingston who head north after an exciting win over Forfarshire last week and Macrae knows that pro Ras Priyadarshana and Paul Hoffman are the main threats for them.

Mid-table sides Watsonians and Clydesdale meet at Myreside with the hosts without duo Ewan Chalmers and Raj Routray due to university exams.

There were few positives for Clydesdale last week against Aberdeenshire, but veteran Greig Williamson's good form continues.

At Hamilton Crescent, McCrea FS West welcome Carlton. Both have had shaky starts to 2010, but have quality performers throughout.