Martin Canning challenges Lennard Sowah to use Hamilton as route back to the top

Hamilton boss Martin Canning has told new signing Lennard Sowah to use Accies and as a springboard back to the big time.

The former Arsenal, Portsmouth and Hamburg youngster has penned a short-term deal after being handed a second chance by Canning.

The 24-year-old was on trial with the Lanarkshire outfit back in the summer, but Canning waited until last week before deciding to offer him a deal.

Now Sowah's new manager has urged the former Germany Under-19 international to use his chance at the SuperSeal Stadium to kick-start his career.

Sowah has played just 60 senior games since leaving the Gunners' youth academy - with the vast majority of them for Hamburg II, the Bundesliga outfit's second string who play in Germany's fourth tier.

But Canning reckons he has the quality to again make the grade at the highest level.

He said: "Lennard's a good player with good pedigree. When you've been at the clubs he's been at you can tell the kid can play.

"When he first came in I was looking for somebody with more experience so that's why we didn't sign him then.

"We tried to sign a couple of other players but I kept in touch with Lennard and he was happy to come back over, so it's good to get him on board.

"It's hard when you are at clubs like Hamburg, who have so many top players. You can easily get to 22 or 23 without playing many games. It doesn't make you a bad player.

"He has played 40 or 50 games for Hamburg II, which is still a decent level and we can see his quality.

"When you get guys in like Lennard who have played at a high level and been at big clubs, you want to make sure that mentally they know they need to work hard.

"They have to realise they are no longer at that level but have to work hard to get back there.

"But Lennard definitely does know that. He's got the right attitude and wants to put the effort in.

"Hopefully we can get him playing games and give him the opportunity to get back to that level.''

• 2014