MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 12:00:05| >> :600:3904918:3904918:

Martin Canning backs James Keatings to provide more 'magic' for Hamilton

The striker inspired Hamilton to a crucial win over St Mirren on Saturday.

Hamilton manager Martin Canning is confident James Keatings possesses the ability to produce moments of magic that will be vital to their survival hopes.

The striker inspired Hamilton to a crucial win over St Mirren on Saturday as he claimed two assists and his first Ladbrokes Premiership goal in their 3-1 victory.

Hamilton now face bottom club Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night and, with Keatings now over the injury problems that have dogged his recent career, Canning knows they have a match-winner in their ranks.

Last season David Templeton provided the spark required to haul Accies away from danger and Canning feels Keatings can perform that role this term.

Canning said: "James adds a bit of quality to what we've got, in the big moments he can produce that quality.

"On Saturday he had two fantastic deliveries for our first two goals and then he had his moment for his own goal, which was brilliant.

"You need those type of players in your team if you are going to win games. Hopefully we can keep him fit and keep him on the pitch because we know he's got the quality to hurt teams.

"James works extremely hard. David Templeton came in last season in a similar situation to James, he'd been struggling with injury. But the physios and sports scientist here work them hard and they are dedicated in their programme.

"James and David are different types of players but James has got the same level of quality and a bit of magic in his boots. Every team needs those sort of guys at the top end of the pitch where in one moment they can win you a game.

"James has that and if we can keep him fit he can add that to the team."

Tenth-placed Hamilton have the chance to open an 11-point gap on bottom club Dundee.

Canning, however, claims their focus is not on what they could achieve but to make sure they reproduce the heights they hit against St Mirren to give themselves a chance of back-to-back wins for the first time since March.

He said: "It's a massive game. It's difficult to win games in this league at the best of times and to get back-to-back wins would be fantastic for us.

"But if we turn up and think it's going to happen because we've had one positive result, it's not. We need to make sure we're at it tomorrow.

"When you start looking too much at what could be and what can be, you take your eye away from what's the most important thing to go and make it happen. For us that'll be our full focus to win the game.

"You need to go again. You need to produce the same work-rate, the same effort in this game."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '04d823a4-5f4b-4163-9295-2d90cecb0a28');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Martin Canning backs James Keatings to provide more \u2018magic\u2019 for Hamilton'});

ID:343343: cacheID:343343:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5109:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
St Mirren game is more important to Hamilton than playing Celtic – Kilgallon
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk17122333141938
2Livingston1696121101133
3Ayr UnitedAyr1794428171131
4Partick ThistlePartick167541811726
5Queen's ParkQueen's Park177461918125
6Hamilton AcademicalHamilton165382329-618
7Raith Rovers165381521-618
8Greenock MortonMorton163761321-816
9Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline1743101420-615
10AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians161312831-236


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!