Accies aim to welcome trio back as injury troubles ease

Nov 30 2006 By Andy McGilvray

BILLY Reid this week hopes to welcome back three top-team players from injury in time for Saturday’s visit by Livingston.

Striker Richard Offiong, winger Mark Gilhaney and captain Marvyn Wilson will all be given until the last minute to prove their fitness.

Top scorer Offiong twisted a knee in training last Thursday and was missing for the 0-0 draw against Ross County on Saturday.

Gilhaney trained on Monday for the first time since tearing a hamstring against Clyde on October 17.

Wilson picked up a rib injury in the derby win over Airdrie United on November 11 and has struggled since.

Reid hopes that Accies’ injury problems are at last beginning to ease.

He said: “We’re hoping that Richard’s injury isn’t as serious as we first thought but he won’t train this week until Friday, when we will make a decision on whether he could be available for Saturday.

“I’m not going to say that he will be ready but we’re not giving up hope.

“Mark Gilhaney trained with the first team on Monday morning and that was his first training session in about six or seven weeks.

“I told him not to go full-out, but he’s back training with the lads and we just hope he doesn’t get a reaction to his hamstring problem.”

He added: “Richard will be given until the last minute, as will Marvyn, who trained on Monday morning but felt a reaction to his rib injury again, which was disappointing.

“They’re three important players, and while it’s OK saying they might be ready, I have to assess them in training to see exactly where I think they’ll be and make a decision on Friday.”

Reid has warned his side that Livingston will seek revenge for the 1-0 defeat Hamilton inflicted on them at Almondvale back in October.

He said: “Livingston will be dangerous, because they’ll still be smarting from the time we went to their place and, not only turned them over, but played really well. They’ll still have that in their minds.

“I know John Robertson. He’s a good tactician and they’ll come here with all guns blazing. I’ll be stressing that to my players.

“Our home form is decent this season. The young lads who have come in bode well for our future, and we’ll try to get as strong a team on the park as we can.

“I would just love to see us with a clean bill of health, to see exactly what this squad could achieve.”

Reid was disappointed with Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Ross County but feels his side aren’t getting many breaks just now.

He said: “We’re trying to win as many games as we can and my beliefs are that we’ve got a decent squad of players here but we don’t seem to get many breaks just now, and I include on the park.

“We gave two penalties away last week at Firhill but there were one or two controversial decisions against us on Saturday, which I didn’t think helped.

“I thought the foul on Paul McLeod was a stonewall penalty but the referee didn’t agree and that’s just the way it’s been for us in recent weeks — we’ve not had many breaks.

“That will change, and in the meantime my experienced players are to be commended for keeping our championship hopes alive, because they’re playing with a lot of young guys in there.”