David Templeton credits Hamilton boss Martin Canning for saving his career
David Templeton has thanked Hamilton boss Martin Canning for the show of faith that salvaged his career.
The Accies duo were celebrating this week after landing a player and manager of the month award double.
But former Rangers and Hearts ace Templeton admits he may never have made it back to the top had Canning not taken a massive gamble on his reconstructed knee.
The 28-year-old came close to hanging up his boots as a never-ending ache pushed him to the brink of retirement.
Only the intervention of his agent Dave Baldwin persuaded him not to give up but even after regaining his fitness, doubts about his ability to cut it at the top level continued to frustrate him.
After being released by Rangers in June last year he saw moves to Raith Rovers, Dundee United and MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps fall through before Accies eventually decided to give him a chance.
But the move has paid off, with Templeton returning to the kind of form that originally won him his £700,000 Ibrox switch back in 2012.
"Teams obviously thought because I'd been out for so long my knee was knackered, that it'd be a bit dodgy to touch me," he confessed. "But thankfully the gaffer took a big gamble on me and I think it's paying off now. This award shows it was the right decision.
"He deserves credit for taking that chance and I'm thankful he did because if he hadn't I might not be playing at all.
"I was out for so long and I didn't know what was going to happen. I thought at one point I'd have to hang the boots up.
"So to be back playing again and getting rewards is brilliant as I really didn't expect it. It's nice to know I can still perform at this level.
"It was such a difficult spell when I was out. I had no back-up plan and wasn't expecting to have to retire aged just 27, so when it came to the realisation that might have to happen it was a real low point in my life.
"It was June last year and I just thought my knee would never heal and that I was finished.
"But it was my agent who told me not to retire. He looked into surgeons and we managed to get the knee sorted. I'm so thankful Dave did talk me round.
"Having come through that I feel so strong now. I feel I can come through anything now. I think that's why I'm playing well. I'm enjoying every day rather than letting things affect me."
Canning and Templeton were honoured after Accies managed to go through the month of November undefeated.
They sit six points above bottom spot and a win against St Johnstone on Saturday could see them into the top six.
But Templeton believes his side have not hit top form yet, saying: "There's been quite a few games this season where we've not won when we should have, so it's about turning those missed opportunities into points.