Hamilton Accies boss hails 'talisman' striker he worked hard to sign

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin has labelled striker Oli Shaw as a ‘talisman’ after the former Hibs striker last week became summer signing number five.

Rankin is delighted to bring the 26-year-old in on a three-year deal from Barnsley, and reckons he’s a star that can help his side to Championship title glory.

The New Douglas Park gaffer has been pleased with pre-season – a serious knee injury sustained by Fergus Owens aside – and reckons his side is ready for the campaign ahead. And while Rankin wants to try and get out of their Premier Sports Cup group stage, he admits it will be an extension of pre-season.

On Shaw, Rankin said: “The three strikers that we have in Oli, Euan Henderson and Kevin O’Hara, I’m really pleased with. Last season I felt we had a lot of strikers on our books, but how many actually contributed by scoring a good amount of goals.

“In that aspect, I thought ‘can we get one that is really important in the dressing room, that is a talisman’, and I think with Oli we’ve done that.

“We put a lot of work into that in the summer to try and get Oli over the line and, to be fair to Oli, he had more lucrative offers elsewhere, but wanted to come and play football.

“We wanted someone like him, who would commit to the club for a long time, hence the three-year contract. It’s really pleasing for us that we’ve got someone of that calibre at the football club, who has been in the Championship before, who has won the league before – but not only that, the athleticism and the professionalism he brings, so I’m thrilled to get him.

“I spoke to the players and told them we want to bring one in that everyone benefits from, and brings everyone that wee bit of excitement.

“I think everyone can see that with Oli’s