Canning insists he needs no help
Hamilton player/boss Martin Canning insists he does not need the help of Alex Neil or anyone else to turn Accies around.
Canning replaced best mate Neil last month after he was lured south to take over at SkyBet Championship outfit Norwich.
But four defeats and two draws is all the former Gretna defender has managed so far.
With second-placed Aberdeen visiting New Douglas Park on Saturday, Hamilton are in danger of kissing goodbye to the top-six slot their former manager worked so hard to claim.
But while Canning is happy to call up Neil for a chat, he will not be looking for any special advice from the Carrow Road chief on how to save his side's season.
He said: "I speak to Alex a lot but not for advice or anything like that. The reason I speak to him every day is mainly because he's my best mate. It's not like I'm phoning to ask him to help with this or that.
"When we speak it's just to have a chat - but with us two football is always dominating the conversation anyway.
"I've got my staff in there so I speak to Chris Swailes, Guillaume Beuzelin and Brian Potter. Between us we are capable of discussing things.
"Don't get me wrong it's great to have guys who you can call up if and when you need them but at the minute I'm not seeking advice. I'm pretty comfortable with the way things are going and hopefully we can get the three points against Aberdeen on Sunday."
It has been a baptism of fire for Canning since making his dug-out debut in the 3-2 defeat to Dundee United for weeks ago.
But the 33-year-old says he is not letting his disappointing start as manager affect life at home.
"Even though we're not getting results, I'm not getting myself too down," he said. "I'd be more down if we were not playing well.
"But if the performances are right the results will come and for me they have been good. It's just that last wee final bit about putting the ball in the net.
"So I don't let it affect me. It's part and parcel of football, You will get runs like this."
Nigel Hasselbaink is in line to make his return to action after finally receiving international clearance following his switch from Greek side Veria.
The Dutchman was not cleared in time to face Kilmarnock last week and could now join fellow new signings Lucas Tagliapietra and Nico Sumsky in facing the Dons.
Dougie Imrie completes a two-game ban while Andy Ryan (groin) is still out.
Niall McGinn is looking for Aberdeen to right one of two Scottish Premiership wrongs on Sunday.
Derek McInnes's side have been knocked out of both domestic cup tournaments but their impressive league form - they are unbeaten in 11 matches - has them in second place and vying with Celtic for the title.
An opening day 3-0 home defeat to Dundee United and a 3-0 loss to Hamilton at New Douglas Park in October were two surprise results for the Pittodrie men and they still rankle with McGinn.
The Northern Ireland forward wants to make amends on his return to Lanarkshire against a side who have dipped since their terrific early season form which took them top of the table, with no wins in their last six games under new player-manager Martin Canning.
"If you look at our season the two games that stand out are the Dundee United one earlier in the campaign when we got beat 3-0, and the Hamilton game where we also got beat 3-0 so we want to put things right on Sunday," McGinn told RedTV.
"Hamilton have done brilliant, they've surprised a lot of people.
"But our run has been great. It shows how much we've improved as a team.
"The consistency is unbelievable and we want to keep improving.
"We know ourselves that we can improve and want to build on good performances and results and pick up as many points as we can.
"There is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season and we will be looking to win as many games as possible."
The former Celtic player insists he is not concerned about the league leaders, preferring to focus on Aberdeen.
"Our main concern is to take each game as it comes," he said.
"We can't affect what Celtic do, we will concentrate on ourselves and that's winning as many games as possible and see where it takes us."
Donervon Daniels is expected to be in the squad after having a back spasm in last Saturday's win against Ross County.
Centre-backs Ashton Taylor and Russell Anderson remain out with knee injuries but are making progress.
Source: PA
