STEVE ISN’T THAT GREAT
DARIAN MACKINNON insists Hamilton have every chance against Kilmarnock as he feels some folk have got carried away with the job Steve Clarke has done.
The 32-year-old Accies ace heads to Rugby Park today looking to put a halt on Killie’s impressive run that has taken them to fifth spot in the Premiership.
Clarke has superbly turned around the Ayrshire men’s fortunes since he took over in October leading to high praise with many tipping him for Manager of the Year.
And although Mackinnon agrees with that summary and hailed the job Clarke has done he doesn’t believe he has made them a team to fear too much.
He said: “Killie have been a good side since Steve went there and he has done an excellent job – he’ll be in the running for Manager of the Year, that’s for sure.
“But you’re playing the team, not the manager. One of the easiest jobs in football is making a team hard to beat and that’s what he has done. They’re a good side but they aren’t unbeatable.
“We have a good record down there and can get three points.”
Kris Boyd may be the Premiership’s top scorer but Mackinnon reckons Eamonn Brophy could pose the biggest threat today against his old team.
The 22-year-old was in and out of the side at New Douglas Park under Alex Neil and Martin Canning, scoring just eight goals in five seasons.
However, following his summer move to Killie, Brophy has matched that total in the last three months. And midfielder Mackinnon claims he had to quit Accies for his own good. He said: “When I first came to Hamilton I was impressed with Eamonn.
“He was a young kid and then he had a really bad groin injury and it knocked him back. You always knew he had quality.
“He is built like a tank but he needed a run of games and unfortunately he never really got that here.
“He has always been determined to make it though and I remember one pre-season he injured himself because he had worked too hard to stay fit during the summer!
“I hope he has a good career but not a good game against us. He needed to get away from here – sometimes you stay too long at a club and your talents maybe aren’t recognised.”
Manager Martin Canning has been boosted by the news playmaker Ali Crawford has recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him and he could make his first appearance of 2018.
The Hamilton gaffer said: “Ali is touch and go but, with him having been out for so long, we don’t want to take any risks with him.
“We need to get off to a good start and I’ve emphasised that to the squad. We’ve started poorly in our last couple of games.”