Canning Happy With Squad Options

Photo by Jeff Holmes Hamilton manager Martin Canning insists they have players ready and able to replace top goalscorers Tony Andreu and Mickael Antoine-Curier, who both left on transfer deadline day. Accies sold Andreu to Norwich for a fee of more than £1million while allowing Antoine-Curier to terminate his contract, thus losing two players who had hit 21 goals between them this season. Defender Canning is now the second-top scorer left at the club with his four goals and is second only to Ali Crawford, who is on eight. Accies failed with a bid for Falkirk striker Rory Loy and Canning confirmed they were still looking for free agents to come in up front. But Canning looks set to give Eamonn Brophy his first Scottish Premiership start against Kilmarnock on Saturday to reward the 18-year-old striker for his 20 goals for Hamilton's development team this season. Speaking of the departures, Canning said: "Obviously it's not ideal but if a player does well and gets the opportunity to move, the club has always been honest to say that we will never stand in their way, provided it's the right offer for the club and the player. "That was the case for Tony obviously. He has moved on and we wish him all the best but we have talented boys in the changing room that are more than capable of stepping up to the plate. "Mickael wanted a fresh challenge and the club managed to sort something out, we wish him well. It was difficult losing two of them but that's football. "There are guys who wanted to play where Tony was playing, there were guys who wanted to play where Mickael was playing. "Now it's up to them to prove they are capable of doing the job they always said they were capable of doing." Canning flagged up Ryan Tierney, who turned 17 last week, as a potential replacement for the departed players. "We look down the pecking order and we have got young players," he said. "We have Eamonn Brophy coming through, who has been great this season. He is looking for an opportunity to play. We also have young Ryan Tierney as well. "That's the way here, if someone moves on then we will look to bring through the next young kid." The transfer traffic was not one way at New Douglas Park over the last month - 21-year-old Czech Nico Sumsky signed on deadline day, providing an extra midfielder following the departure of Canning's predecessor as player-manager, Alex Neil. And 24-year-old Brazilian defender Lucas Tagliapietra joined from Moldovan club Milsami Orhei. Canning said: "The centre-back is a big presence. He is 6ft 4in and has trained really well. "Young Nico is the opposite, he is 5ft 7in so it's like Little and Large. But he is technically very good and the type of player we like here. He is a clever wee player. "They were brought in on trial and have done really well." Tagliapietra's arrival does not mean Canning will move on to the sidelines. "I'm planning on continuing to play," he said. "For as long as I feel I can offer something I will look to play. "If you saw the Partick Thistle game - when one or two of us go out, then we don't have much options. It was an area we felt we needed some cover. "It is another player to push and make sure the guys that are playing are having to keep their place."