Middlesbrough v Leeds Utd: Snodgrass ready to put himself to the test in Scots corner

His family, with the exception of mum, were staunch Celtic fans, but that did not prevent young Snodgrass from training with Rangers as well as his boyhood favourites after school during the week.

Eventually, when the time came to decide where his footballing future lay, he opted for Livingston, who he describes today as "a more level-headed club" than the Old Firm pair.

It proved a wise decision, Snodgrass's talent blossoming after an initially rocky start at Almondvale Stadium to such an extent that he attracted several potential suitors, including a couple of Premier League clubs and Barcelona.

A move to Leeds United followed in the summer of 2008 but, despite that move south, Snodgrass has retained his interest in what is happening back home in Glasgow football.

It means today's trip to Middlesbrough will have extra resonance for the 23-year-old, not least because his agent will have divided loyalties due to being a supporter of the Teesside club.

The derby fixture at the Riverside also offers the chance to pit his wits against a team with a huge Glaswegian influence thanks to the presence at the Riverside of former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and several veterans of Old Firm battles.

More pertinently, however, in terms of Snodgrass's football ambitions, the tea-time kick-off provides an opportunity for him to stake a claim for some long-overdue international recognition with Scotland.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post at United's Thorp Arch training ground, he said: "There are loads of Scotland players at Middlesbrough, a few of whom are in the Scottish set-up.

"So it gives me a chance to go and test myself against international players. It gives me a chance to see if I am a million miles away."

But for events conspiring against him in 2009, Snodgrass would already have made the step up to the senior side.

Twice he received a call-up from previous manager George Burley only to have to withdraw.

First, a clash with Leeds's play-off semi-final against Millwall in May meant he had to pull out of the squad, and his second disappointment came courtesy of an untimely injury that forced the Scot to miss a World Cup qualifier in Norway three months later.

Asked if that frustration had made him even keener to make the breakthrough this season, Snodgrass said: "I am not the sort to set myself targets. They may be in the back of the mind but I don't think anything should be a target expect getting Leeds United to the top of the table.

"I have a job to do here. It would, though, be a wonderful achievement to play for Scotland. It hurt to miss out twice when I had been selected.

"The manager, George Burley, phoned me up and gave me that opportunity. But I was then fit when we had a game against Japan and (was) not selected.

"I thought maybe I would have got a chance then but I am not the sort to cry over it. If it happens, it happens.

"Being in the Championship (as opposed to League One) can only help, though there were people not in the team to face Spain (on Tuesday when Scotland lost 3-2) who are in the Premier League and captain of their club.

"It shows that where you are playing isn't a guarantee about anything, more where the manager thinks you can do a job for the team and if you are ready.

"All I can do is the best job I can for Leeds and if Scotland call after that, then great."

The injury that led to Snodgrass missing last year's World Cup qualifier in Oslo is not the only reason why he frowns at the mention of Norway.

It was in the Scandinavian country where, during a pre-season friendly against SK Brann last July, the Scot suffered a nasty knee injury that, at one stage, led to him being told by United's medical staff that he would be out for six months.

Happily, the damage did not prove to be as serious as first feared and he was back in a little over a third of that time.

Now, having marked his first start of the campaign a fortnight ago with a goal in United's 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town, he is itching to make his mark in the Championship – starting today at the Riverside.

He said: "There is a bit of pressure on Middlesbrough at the moment. My agent is a Boro fan and tells me the crowds are going down. Everyone is getting on the team's backs as well."

Leeds will take on a Boro side who are yet to justify their

pre-season tag as favourites for promotion, Strachan's men having claimed just 11 points from the opening 10 games.

Snodgrass added: "I know it is a cliche about how a club can have a team of individuals but I have watched Middlesbrough this season and they don't play as a team. You need everyone to be playing together.

"Middlesbrough have a lot of good individuals, that is what I will say. But they have not shown it as a team."

Such a slow start has led to Strachan, who lifted the league title in 1992 as Leeds captain, coming under pressure.

Snodgrass, however, insists a manager who overcame a poor start at Celtic to win a host of trophies has the strength to come through Boro's current travails.

He said: "A lot of my mates are Celtic fans and some stuck by Strachan (when he was manager) while some were not too keen. But I thought he was a first-class manager.

"He was also a first-class player and I am in no doubt that he will be drumming all the right things into the Middlesbrough lads before Saturday tea-time."