Broony by look, and Broony by nature

Hamilton Accies midfielder Darian Mackinnon is more than just a Scott Brown lookalike.

Following in the footsteps of the Celtic captain has saved his season.

The Accies enforcer was told he wouldn’t kick a ball again in this campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in January.

However, using his idol’s refusal to give in as an example, Mackinnon has confounded the medical experts by shaving months off his comeback date and he aims to be back in the next couple of weeks.

“Darian definitely has the same attitude and mentality as Broony,” claimed Accies manager Martin Canning.

“He’s so professional, it’s ridiculous.

“He came into the senior game really late, and I think he appreciates what he has now, compared to where he’d come from.

“But it couldn’t have been easy for him coming into the SPFL without having come through an academy and brought up as a full-time player.

“He’s as dedicated to his job as anyone I’ve come across.

“He has Scott Brown as his role model and he’s a similar type of player in terms of his style and nature.

“Darian definitely brings a lot to this club with his approach to the job and his work-rate.

“Even when he’s not been able to go out on the pitch, he’s beasting himself in the gym every day – and that rubs off on everyone else.”

Accies lost box-to-box midfielder Greg Docherty to Rangers during the last transfer window, and playmaker Ali Crawford has yet to play this year due to injury.

So having Mackinnon back ahead of schedule is a real boost in their battle against the drop.

“Darian is still a couple of weeks away yet but he’s doing great,” Canning beamed.

“He’s a really determined guy and he’s working his socks off to try and get back as quickly as he can.”