Hamilton Accies midfielder's return to training has lifted spirits, says John Rankin

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says Miko Virtanen's return to training has lifted the spirits of everyone at the club.

But the Finn's fellow midfielder Lucas de Bolle is still being plagued by complications from his recent concussion.

Virtanen has been out since January, having struggled with an Achilles injury in 2022 and then undergoing ankle surgery in April, but he is getting closer to a return for Accies.

Rankin said of the 23-year-old: "Miko is back training after being out a long time, so that new face on the training field gives everyone a lift.

"His workrate and the way he gets in around people's ribs and stuff adds a bit of intensity to training.

"It's been good to see him back.

"There's been no knocks or injuries since Saturday, but Lucas de Bolle remains out with concussion symptoms.

"Apart from that everyone else is in good spirits."

On de Bolle, he added: "Put the football to one side, he is a young kid first and foremost and the most important thing is his health is in the right way.

"His vision is a bit blurred and that becomes an issue for him. It's not a risk we are prepared to take.

"He spoke to me on Friday and he was desperate to be involved on Saturday but he was still getting symptoms so that is hugely disappointing.

"At the same time, I feel for the kid. He is desperate to prove himself and put himself on the footballing map.

"He has ability, he's just not getting the luck at the moment and he's getting relapses of the symptoms he's had before so we need to be really careful with that.

"Lucas thought was there. He was involved in the game against Queen's Park, he went away with Scotland under-21s, everything was fine.

"But then he had a relapse so we just need to be patient with him."

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