INJURED STARS SET FOR RETURN

Feb 8 2007 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid is delighted to finally welcome back some of his top stars... because it will create fierce competition for places.

Reid doesn’t want his top-team players taking starting places for granted, and reckons they’ll up their game even further with the return of Derek Fleming, Scott Tunbridge and Tom Parratt.

He said: “Parratt, Tunbridge and Fleming are now training and will come into the squad for the game against Queen of the South.

“I’ve not decided on a team yet, but Marvyn Wilson is suspended, which is disappointing because he’s in a rich vein of form.

“Having competition for places is massive at this club, but it’s important for a player as well to know that there’s somebody breathing down their neck for their place.

“The message to the players is that they’ve got to work hard and earn the jersey.

“The one thing I demand is that people give me 100 per cent.

“I would love to have a decent run until the end of this season and it would be nice to get competition for places which is something we’ve probably not had this season.”

Having had a break last weekend, Reid is raring to go when Queen of the South visit New Douglas Park on Saturday.

Billy reckons the last-gasp win at Livingston a fortnight previous will stand Accies in good stead when they face Ian McCall’s relegation-haunted side.

He said: “We’ve drawn against Queen of the South twice this season and they’ve been two hard games, where we probably haven’t been at our best, so we’re looking to put that right.

“But they’ve made a couple of decent signings in January, so we know it’s going to be difficult.

“Winning against Livingston was important, with us not playing for a week, because it kept our spirits high.

“I hope our fans are patient with us, I think we try to play in the right manner, get the ball down, and pass it.”

Given the extent of Hamilton’s injury problems this term, Reid is delighted that his side sit fourth in the First Division.

And he put part of that success down to the impact assistant manager Graeme Jones has had since re-joining the club.

Reid said: “I’d like for us to have a few more points on the board but I can’t have any complaints as the players have given me everything.

“But I’ve also got to say that Graeme coming in as assistant manager has been a huge benefit to the players and myself, as he is an excellent coach. Graeme played at the top level and will be an asset.”

Hamilton have a goalkeeping crisis ahead of Saturday’s match, with Davie McEwan still not fit, and Michael White injured, meaning Reid may be forced to put a young keeper on the bench as understudy to Raymond Jellema.