MacKinnon confident of Hamilton future without Docherty
Docherty has been linked with a move to Rangers this window
Hamilton midfielder Darian MacKinnon is confident his side can continue to progress even if Greg Docherty leaves during this transfer window.
Rangers have been heavily linked with the 21-year old midfielder this month, with Accies rejecting an opening offer but Gers are expected to come back with an improved bid.
Boss Martin Canning accepts the midfielder may move on and he would not stand in his way if the right offer came in, and experienced midfielder MacKinnon thinks there are plenty of players ready to step up in Docherty's absence.
Accies have gained a reputation for developing players through their academy, with Docherty a prime example of their success, and that is not about to stop.
"Training in the last couple of weeks has been good,'' MacKinnon said. "Young Lewis Ferguson has come in and kicked on again and there are others; Steven Boyd is out at Livingston.
"There is quality ready to come through, that's how this club works.''
On Docherty's move, he added: If the right offer comes through, it would be good for the kid to go and further his career elsewhere, but that's not down to me.''
Accies face Motherwell in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, barely three weeks since their last encounter which saw Peter Hartley sent off after the final whistle after clashing with Dougie Imrie.
However MacKinnon does not expect the bad blood to linger.
He said: "I hope there's an edge to the game but I hope it's not unsavoury.
"These things happen, we've been involved in a couple of incidents after the game but they happen and you just need to forget about them.''
With Hamilton hovering around the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership, MacKinnon accepts their focus has to be on the league, even if it that comes at the cost of a cup run.
He said: "We always want a run in the cup, but we can never get too safe in the league.
"Staying up is our target this year and until that's mathematically sorted, that's what we concentrate on.'