Accies Captain Alex Neil back within four weeks

Sep 17 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies have been handed a major boost with news that captain Alex Neil could be back in action within four weeks.

The influential midfielder was initially ruled out until Christmas after undergoing a hip operation, but boss Billy Reid has hinted that Neil could be back sooner.

Speaking after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Hibs courtesy of a Simon Mensing penalty and debut goal for striker Mickael Antoine-Curier, Reid said: “We’re now regrouping, we’re looking solid, and our captain will be back in three or four weeks so it’s looking good.”

Reid hailed his team’s spirit after Sunday’s win, and said the performance was a return to what he regards as the real Hamilton Accies.

He said: “The problems we’ve had this season have been well-documented and I was looking for answers. We’ve worked hard in the last couple of weeks and I think we’ve showed our intentions of being solid again as a unit.

“One thing I demand – and have done since day one – is that everybody gives me 100 per cent. I’m not saying that wasn’t happening in the first few games of the season but we weren’t quite ready, there were mistakes made, things that didn’t work out, and we’ve rectified that.

“The spirit was back in the team on Sunday, you saw how well they worked for each other, and I think that’s really important for a club like Hamilton Accies.

“We had everybody on the money and working hard for the club, and I thought it was a fantastic performance.”

Reid added: “I think it was important, psychologically, for us to pick up the three points. We had only played one game at home and I was disappointed with the performance against Aberdeen because it wasn’t ‘us’, but on Sunday it was much more like Hamilton Accies.

“I’ve said all along this season to judge us when we got some of our big players back. We got that, and I think it showed.

“There will be blips along the way – you’ve got to remember we are Hamilton Accies in the Premier League – and it’s how we deal with those that is important.

“We’re now regrouping, we’re looking solid, and our captain will be back in three or four weeks, so we’re looking good.”

While Reid admitted goalkeeper Tomas Cerny “bailed us out” with a terrific double save from Derek Riordan’s 79th-minute penalty and Colin Nish’s follow-up, he was astonished by the debut performance by striker Mickael Antoine-Curier.

He said: “It’s a strange one that we picked up a player like that from Dundee, a First Division club, and on loan – but I looked at his goal-scoring record and it’s exceptional.

“Mickael hasn’t really settled at a club but since he’s came here he’s been exceptional.

“On Sunday he was unselfish, he led the line, never got frustrated, won us corners, free-kicks and head-flicks, kept it in, and got his goal – what more can you ask for a debut!”

Reid has turned his attentions to Saturday’s visit by Falkirk, and said: “I said after the Rangers game that our next two home games, against Hibs and Falkirk, were ones we targeted taking points from – and that’s no disrespect to them, because we knew it would be difficult.

“It’s got the makings of a big, big game but with us being the home side we’ve got to force the issue and we’ll try to do that.”

Young Hamilton striker Euan Lindsay has been included in Ross Mathie’s 21-strong Scotland under-17 squad for a training camp at the sportscotland National Training Centre in Largs on October 5 and 6, where he will be joined by Motherwell forward Liam Gormley.