Hamilton Accies star Dylan McGowan will be given 'until last minute' to prove fitness for Arbroath clash

Hamilton Accies will give captain Dylan McGowan until "the last possible moment" to be fit for Friday's massive match with relegation rivals Arbroath.

The defender hobbled off after 37 minutes of Saturday's 4-1 defeat at home Queen's Park when an on-going calf problem flared up.

It immediately sparked fears that the Australian centre-back, who has been a major calming influence at the heart of the defence since his January loan move from Kilmarnock, would miss the clash with bottom of the table Lichties.

Boss John Rankin - whose side are just a point ahead of Arbroath going into the match - has revealed he is hopeful that the 31-year-old will be fit for Friday, but says it is one they will need to monitor right up until kick-off.

He said: "Dylan felt a twinge in his calf last week and he was one of the ones who was struggling last Tuesday night [against Inverness] and got through the game.

"On Saturday he felt it again and thought it was best to come off as a precaution.

"He seems fine at the moment and he's been in good spirits in training so we'll just need to play it by ear.

"You are always hopeful. We were hopeful he'd be able to get through the Inverness game and he did, so we will leave it until the last possible moment before making a decision on him."

One boost ahead of Friday is that Rankin has welcomed back Ryan One to the squad after he picked up an injury while on Scotland under-17 duty a couple of weeks ago.

The 16-year-old has trained this week and Rankin said: "Ryan picked up a wee injury when he was away with Scotland. He came back with a slight ligament injury but he is absolutely fine so he will be ready to go.

"He trained on Monday and again on Tuesday morning so he is fine.

"Everyone else is fine.