Hamilton Accies friendly double-header will give fans a glimpse of new faces

Hamilton Accies will be back on the pitch this weekend as fans get their first glimpse of the club’s summer signings.

The team kick off their pre-season friendly programme on Saturday with games against Cumbernauld Colts (12.30pm) and Gala Fairydean Rovers (3.30pm) at New Douglas Park, before clashing with Premiership side St Johnstone in a closed doors game on Tuesday afternoon.

Entry to Saturday’s double-header is £5 for the day, and boss John Rankin said: “Pre-season has been going well. We started last Wednesday, boys have done testing, and then they’ve been at it in double sessions in the past couple of days.

“They’re working hard and they’re getting through the challenges, which is the main thing at this point, making sure that they get fit and we’ll start piecing the jigsaw together.

“This summer has been really short and the fact that the players had only four and a half weeks, considering they went through a tough season, they needed to switch off mentally as well as physically.

“They’ve come back, they’re in really good shape. There is some weight and body-fat that has gone up, but that was always going to be the case when the break is so short.

“Over the next couple of weeks we’ll get everything ready.

“They look hungry, they look recharged, which is what pre-season is for, and we’ll work them, make sure they’re right.

“Their fitness levels are good, and we just need to make sure we top that up and maintain it.”

Rankin added: “It’s a case of making sure everybody gets through the fitness period. There’s no eyes on anybody just now, it’s making sure everybody comes through the first 10 days unscathed, and making sure we can get through not only Saturday’s games, but Tuesday’s game as well, because it comes