Hamilton Accies star suffers set-back as bug also strikes squad, says boss John Rankin

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says defender Jamie Hamilton has suffered a set-back in his return to the team, while a few players have been struck down with illness.

As they prepare for the visit by Dundee in the Championship on Saturday, Rankin says while there are no new injuries, there are things to content with.

But they’re working hard to make sure as many players as possible are ready for the crunch clash.

He said: “Jamie Hamilton has had a wee set-back, we thought he might have been available for this weekend but he’s felt a bit of pain kicking a ball.

“That sets him back probably a couple of weeks, and that’s unfortunate, because we were ready to get him integrated into the squad.

“Fitness-wise he was looking good, but unfortunately for ourselves that set-back has happened and it will be a couple of weeks before we see Jamie again.

“There are no injuries. Injury-wise we’re just as we have been, but there are a few struggling with different bugs.

“Lucas de Bolle was away on international duty with Scotland under-21s, came back, trained yesterday but he’s carrying a wee bug as well.”

Former Newcastle starlet Regan Thomson has also been on the sidelines and is only just coming back to training.

Rankin revealed: “Regan was one of those who wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t know Covid was still a thing, but Regan has managed to contract that, he’s not been anywhere near training with the squad anyway.

“He’s on the return to playing just now and came back in yesterday for the first time.

“Everyone else is fine and we’re ready to go for Saturday.

“We had a bounce game last week, getting minutes into players.

“I felt it was important, because with the death of the Queen we had no game. We had no game, a game, then no