Accies boss hopes injured players will make Saturday’s squad.

Feb 18 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid is ready to add some steel to his side ahead of the trip to Hearts by welcoming back captain Alex Neil and midfield enforcer James Wesolowski for Sunday’s showdown.

But Reid travels to Tynecastle minus the services of winger Dougie Imrie, whose booking at Fir Park last week handed him a one-match ban.

Striker Mickael Antoine-Curier faces up to four more weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery but the return of midfielders Neil and Wesolowski (below) has boosted Reid’s options.

The Accies boss is confident of taking the three points against Jim Jefferies’ Jambos and admits he can’t wait to have a full squad to choose from.

Reid said: “That’s the midweek games out of the road, we’re now on an even keel, and we’ve got Neil and Wesolowski still to come back in. That’s massive because, with James McArthur, that’s the engine room of the team.

“We’ve got eight days between games in which to get Alex and Weso ready, and I’m fairly hopeful that both will be available.

“I know I’ve been saying that for the last few weeks it’s been a period that has been fairly disheartening for me, because they’re big, big players.

“James picked up his injury at Celtic on Boxing Day and, up until then, he was brilliant for us. He’s a midfielder that gives us a wee bit more drive going forward and we’ve missed that at times.

“I think Alex has only played seven games this season, which is not a lot for probably our most influential player.

“It has been a testing time because we have had some key players injured.

“Once all those players are back, it will make us stronger.”

Reid admitted his side were jaded during Saturday’s goalless draw with Motherwell, but feels that had a lot to do with last Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

He said: “Last week, when Motherwell nicked it 1-0, we were disappointed, but we were sensational against United and for the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s game, we looked right up for it.

“I thought Mark McLaughlin’s header was going in but it hit the bar. We were looking really good at that stage and had that gone in it might have been different, but we huffed and puffed.

“In the final third we lacked a wee bit of quality, the final pass wasn’t cutting enough, and too many people took the wrong option.

“We lacked the same energy and drive that we showed on Wednesday, but goals change games.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game at Tynecastle, Reid reckons his side have nothing to fear from a side five positions and 10 points ahead of them in the SPL table.

The fact that both sides were involved in a fiery clash at New Douglas Park in December – which ended with six red cards and a tunnel punch-up – will no doubt add spice to the fixture.

Reid said: “The last time we were at Tynecastle, we lost a penalty and then conceded a goal, so that was disappointing, but we performed well.

“It’s a game we feel we can take something from. Dougie missing the game is a wee bit of a blow for us, but we don’t have anything to fear from Hearts.”

Reid paid special tribute to Irish defender David Elebert, who has been in and out of the side this season, but has put in some outstanding performances recently.

He admitted: “I’ve moved to a back three and I think teams are finding it hard to break us down.

“I’ve got to say that big David is probably the most improved player at the club right now.

“I probably didn’t trust him enough but this season, since he’s been left out and came in, David has been brilliant.”

Accies have failed to score in their last five home games, dating back to the 3-3 Scottish Cup fourth round draw against Rangers on January 10 – but the loss of Antoine-Curier to injury during that period is hardly coincidental.

However, Reid appealed for Hamilton fans to be patient while he tries to get things right in front of goal.

He said: “There’s a wee bit of nervousness at home at the moment. Fans are twitchy because we’re not scoring goals and I think that rubs off onto the players – those who saw us on Wednesday must have thought they were watching a different team altogether against Motherwell.

“We’re the smallest club in the SPL and I can understand the fans being frustrated that we’re not scoring goals at home, but it’s not through lack of trying.”