Martin Canning: Ali Crawford may have to quit Accies to fulfill Scotland dreams

Martin Canning admits Ali Crawford may have to quit Hamilton if he wants to fulfil his Scotland dreams.

Frontman Crawford has made a sensational start to the season for Accies, with the 25-year-old already on six strikes for the campaign after just 10 appearances.

That goal glut has already taken him past the tally he managed in the whole of last season and Canning reckons his star man is destined for the top.

But he claims Crawford is unlikely to win his first international call-ups at New Douglas Park - because Hamilton is not sexy enough to catch Gordon Strachan's eye.

He said: "I think Scotland honours is something Ali should be aiming for. He needs to aim as high as he can.

"We talk during every transfer window about whether Ali will go or will he stay.

"But it says a lot about his attitude that through all that he keeps his head down and works hard.

"If he continues to score goals the way he has so far this season we will see more talk in January and hopefully one day he'll get the opportunity to play for Scotland.

"Maybe he needs to move on to make that step up because we don't have the profile needed to get a Scotland call-up. That happened with James McArthur.

"He was performing well for us but when he moved to Wigan he was in the Scotland squad a week later, so it does happen."

Canning says it is not only Crawford who is being hard done-by because of Accies' low-key image.

"It happens down the age levels too," he added. "I've tried to phone Scot Gemmell as well about young Greg Docherty and Eamonn Brophy. They don't get a look in for the Under-21s.

"I can't understand how someone like Greg can be overlooked. He's played 50 games in the Premiership and he's only 19.

"We all just need to keep working hard and hopefully the boys get their opportunities."

Meanwhile, Canning - whose side host St Johnstone on Sunday - will not be taking further his interest in former Arsenal left-back Justin Hoyte, but denied it was because of a failure to agree personal terms.

The Accies boss has also turned down the chance to sign ex-Oldham defender Connor Brown.

"We had Justin to have a look but I just didn't feel it was right for us," he said. "We have Darren Lyon there and if I'm going to bring someone in, I've got to be comfortable they are better than what I've got.

"I'm not going to bring in players just for the sake of having more bodies. I don't want guys like Darren missing game time because we've signed someone who I don't believe is any better than he is.

"I heard the move broke down because of personal terms but we had discussed that before Justin came up and we were comfortable with the rate he was looking for.

"He is a good professional and a good guy who did well when he was here. It was the same with Conor Brown but maybe I've got a high opinion of Darren Lyon. Again I didn't think he was any better than what we've got."