Stoke City boss Alex Neil: Hamilton Accies is perfect breeding ground for likes of Tom Sparrow to develop

Alex Neil reckons Hamilton Accies is the perfect breeding ground for young players like loan star Tom Sparrow to cut their teeth and insists he wouldn’t be where he is today if not for his grounding at New Douglas Park.

The Stoke City boss is a legend in South Lanarkshire after his impressive stint as a player and manager of Accies, which was the springboard for big jobs down in England that saw him lead Norwich City into the English Premier League in 2015 and Sunderland into the Championship last year.

And he insists Scottish football is an ideal learning environment for players looking to make their way in the game.

This season, Neil has sent 20-year-old Welsh midfielder Sparrow on loan to Accies from Stoke, and that follows him sending goalkeeper Remi Matthews and striker Carlton Morris to his old stomping ground in 2016 when he was at Norwich.

And the 42-year-old said: “Hamilton has always been a breeding ground for young players.

“As far as academies go in Scotland, Hamilton has produced as many, if not more, than any other academy about.

“You have got Celtic or Rangers, obviously, but how many of their young players get a chance to play in the first team regularly?

“Whereas at Hamilton, they will trust you and put you in. If you’ve got enough talent then, ultimately, you can go on and forge a really good career for yourself.

“That’s what Hamilton as a club sets out to do.

“If you look at the history in terms of clubs I’ve been at, I’ve sent Remi Matthews up there, I sent Carlton Morris – who is scoring loads of goals for Luton at the moment - there as well and now I’ve sent Tom up because I really do believe it is a great breeding ground for young players to learn their trade.

“It is beneficial for both parties.