Canning confident ahead of potential start v St Johnstone

Hamilton manager Martin Canning insists he is ready to start for the first time in six months against St Johnstone on Saturday.

With fellow centre-back Lucas Tagliapietra suspended following his red card against Partick Thistle and Michael Devlin still on his way back from an ankle injury, Canning is considering starting himself for the first time since he was sent off against the Perth side on April 4.

The 33-year-old was struggling with a calf problem earlier in the season but made his first appearance of the campaign off the bench during the 1-1 draw at Firhill on Saturday.

Canning, who could move right-back Ziggy Gordon into the centre, said: "We will have a couple of options and it's something I will need to think about. But I have said all along that I will keep ticking over and if I'm needed I will be there to play.

"It doesn't change my week, it ticks along as normal, and if I need to play Saturday I will make sure I rest up on Friday.

"I have played four or five 20s games and friendlies this season so I'll be ready to go.''

Canning came on in the 63rd minute against Thistle, just after they had fallen behind to a Mathias Pogba goal, and Accies went on to equalise through Dougie Imrie.

"I could maybe have done it a bit sooner but I was struggling a bit with a wee pulled muscle in my stomach and I didn't want to put myself out of this weekend and come back off in that game as well,'' he said.

"When we lost the goal I felt it was the right thing to do to put myself on and fortunately it paid off. It's cleared up now.''

Canning considered an appeal against the red card, after Tagliapietra pulled back Pogba, but decided against it after talks with the club's former secretary.

"I spoke to Scott Struthers and he said you have got to prove it's a clear and obvious mistake,'' Canning said.

"On another day he could have booked him but you couldn't say he has made a big mistake. So we decided not to appeal it.''

Canning will have Ali Crawford back from a groin problem to face Saints but Darren Lyon remains out with a knee injury.