Club matters important for McGovern against Ross County

Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern looks out for his Northern Ireland colleagues each weekend and hopes to see them doing well.

But he knows he will have to watch out very closely for international team-mate Liam Boyce on Saturday as he bids to protect his own run of clean sheets.

McGovern has not conceded in three matches, since Accies were thrashed 8-1 at Celtic Park.

And he aims to continue that record when they face Ross County and 17-goal striker Boyce in the Premiership in Dingwall.

"We've got a really tight bunch there and I would class all of the boys as friends in the Northern Ireland set-up," McGovern said.

"You always look to see who is playing and hope everyone else is doing well.

"Liam has done fantastically well, especially over the last 12 months. He is going to be a big threat. But they have a lot of threats and have signed (David) Goodwillie as well.

"He has really got his fitness up. He has always been a good finisher and since he has got his fitness up, he has shown how good a player he is."

With Accies in between the top-six places and the relegation play-off spot, McGovern has put thoughts of the European Championship to one side to focus on his club duties.

The 31-year-old added: "It's always nice to keep clean sheets but it's good for the team.

"We had a bad month in December, we conceded too many goals. So we got back to basics and shored up at the back.

"It's good for the team because clean sheets are the basis for good results. It's nice personally to get clean sheets because we had been conceding too many goals for a while, but it's really because the team is getting results now, it's been much better.

"If we can convert the draws into wins then we can start climbing the table."