Accies boss delighted to sign striker Antoine-Curier

Jan 13 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid said he hopes to make further additions to his squad in the January transfer window, after re-signing striker Mickael Antoine-Curier on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Frenchman signed a contract on Tuesday until May, and both he and Reid hope it will be fruitful for the New Douglas Park club.

Mickael said: “I’m hoping to get back to fitness as quickly as possible, play as much as I can and score goals.

“When I wear the shirt of Hamilton Accies I will always give 200 per cent to try and score and help the team.”

Reid admits he’s taking a gamble on a striker who hasn’t played club football this season, but is delighted to link up again with a player who netted eight times in a loan spell last term.

But despite Antoine-Curier being registered in time for last night’s (Wednesday’s) home clash with Celtic, Reid is unlikely to cast him in to the fray immediately.

The gaffer said: “The most important thing is to get Mickael back up to match fitness for the SPL, because it’s not going to be as easy as just throwing him straight in.

“He’s been out for quite some time through injury but I know that if he plays well and we give him the service then he will score goals.

“Mickael is a massive presence and was excellent for us until his injury, and if he stays injury-free he’ll score goals.”

Reid hopes to add to his squad and hasn’t given up hope of landing Wigan midfielder Jon Routledge on a new loan deal.

He said: “I have targets and we’ll try to bring people in, but it isn’t as easy as that – it’s down to finance.

“It will be younger players who play with Premiership clubs but who are unproven, guys like Jon Routledge

“This is a decent club for young players to come and play, and I’d love to get Routledge back. If I can add one or two of that ilk it will make us stronger.”

Hamilton travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, and Reid insists his job is made easier when Accies are up against the SPL champions.

He said: “These games take care of themselves – you don’t need to tell players to raise their game and there’s no pressure on us because nobody expects us to pick anything up – but I do.

“We’ve gone so close in recent games against them, and if we play to our potential we can cause them problems.”

Accies finally grabbed their first home win of the season last Saturday with a 2-0 Scottish Cup victory over Alloa Athletic, courtesy of goals from Nigel Hasselbaink and Flavio Paixao.

That set up a fifth round home clash against either holders Dundee United or Ross County.

Reid said: “We’ve been a bit lucky this season in getting two home ties on the bounce and we need to take advantage of that, regardless of which team we’ll be up against.

“But neither Ross County nor Dundee United will relish coming here.”

Hamilton’s SPL fixture against Hibs will now take place at New Douglas Park on Tuesday, March 1, with a 7.45pm kick-off.