Martin Canning believes David Templeton has the quality to rescue Hamilton

The former Rangers and Hearts winger signed a short-term deal for Accies near the end of March after a lengthy spell out through injury.

Templeton came on with six minutes remaining against Motherwell at the SuperSeal Stadium on Saturday to make his debut in his first appearance since August 2015.

The 28-year-old showed flashes of his talent, coming close to a goal with a deflected strike, but the 1-0 defeat left Hamilton in the Ladbrokes Premiership relegation play-off spot.

Canning's side, who finish the campaign with a trip to Ross County on Tuesday night and a home game against Dundee on Saturday, are three points behind Motherwell and six above bottom side Inverness but he believes Templeton might be able to help their cause.

"If we can get something out of the next two games that would be great," said the Hamilton boss.

"That was the plan, that we would get something in one of the games.

"He has been here for the last four or five weeks and is improved every week in terms of his fitness.

"He has that bit of quality.

"He is still a good bit off it in terms of match sharpness and match fitness but you know at that stage of the game, when you are on top, he won't have much running to do and he has the quality to make something happen.

"I said that when I brought him in, if it is one moment, one goal, one cross, one assist that keeps us in the league then it could be important.

"If that can pay off that would be great."

Following the full-time whistle on Saturday skipper Michael Devlin's father was involved in a heated exchange with a supporter who was directing his ire at the defender.

Afterwards Devlin revealed his mum and sister had also been there to witness the unsavoury incident and said: "I understand fans are frustrated but it's not good enough."

"We don't expect our players to take personal abuse off anybody, let alone your own fans," said Canning.

"That is something that shouldn't happen.

"It is one person and you can't take one person's opinion among 2,500 people there.

"I am sure if you go round the crowd that 98 per cent will be a Michael fan because he has been excellent for this club.

"He is a young boy, 23, he is captain of the club, he leads by example every week on the pitch and I am pretty sure that the vast majority of our fans will be on Michael's side.

"This guy is the one guy who is in the wrong.

"I can understand you giving a little bit of something from the stands but the boys put in everything they had on Saturday and Michael was fantastic, he won everything in the air.

"So for someone to come down and give him personal abuse is not on.

"You don't need that from any fan; that is not fan."

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