Lyon finally ready to roar after getting his chance

HAMILTON midfielder Darren Lyon is keen to finally establish himself in the first team after agreeing a new deal with the club.

Lyon is set to sign a three-year contract extension that will run until 2021 after establishing himself in Accies’ match-day squad following his injury nightmare.

The 22-year-old suffered a long-term groin injury that ruled him out of the majority of last season, and did not play a league match this campaign until the end of October, but has since earned a run in the side, including five successive starts.

“Everything has been agreed and I am happy to be signing it, I’m enjoying my football here so I’m happy to extend my contract,” he said. “I just want to play as many games as I can hopefully and establish myself.

“Over the last few years I’ve had a few injuries and stuff like that, and I need to repay the manager (Martin Canning) and Ronnie (MacDonald, the chairman) and the rest of the board for showing faith in me and giving me a new deal.”

He added: “This is probably the longest run I’ve had staying fit for a wee while.”

Lyon came off the bench late on in Accies’ 3-2 win over Ross County last weekend, but still saw plenty of action with both sides scoring and having a player sent off as the match finished with ugly scenes following Ioannis Skondras’ red card.

However, as Hamilton prepare to take on struggling Partick Thistle on Saturday, Lyon believes the melee that took place at the end of the game shows the character of the side.

He said: “We’re quite a close unit and will scrap for each other, but it shows the fight in the team. It shows the character we have in the team.”