GARY HIT BY FREAK INJURY
HAMILTON have revealed that keeper Gary Woods lacerated one of his kidneys during their 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday.
The shot-stopper is out of their home Premiership clash against Rangers on Friday and will be missing for several weeks.
Accies boss Martin Canning said: “Gary landed awkwardly and lacerated a kidney. I don’t know how you do that when you dive around all day, every day.
“It’s just been whatever way he has fallen but he went to hospital and he’ll be kept in for a few days.
“Thankfully, the medics don’t see it as anything long-term or major.
“His back went into spasm to protect the injury and he came off.
“When he went to the hospital on Monday they scanned it and found a cut in his kidney. So they are keeping an eye on it for a few days to make sure it is healing. It was just a freak accident.
“Gary said he has been diving around 400 times a day on that side with no problems for 10 years yet he falls once and this happens.”
Canning has no qualms about throwing in either deputy goalkeeper Darren Jamieson or Ryan Fulton for the visit of the Ibrox side on Friday.
He added: “I’m not concerned over the situation as Darren and Ryan have both been excellent.”
He is, however, bracing himself for a Rangers backlash after they stuttered to a 2-0 defeat against rivals Celtic at Ibrox last weekend.
Accies have claimed the Parkhead side’s scalp since they rejoined the top flight back in 2014 but a win over Rangers has eluded them so far.
However, Canning insists his men will rise to the challenge and that earning points in fixtures like this could go a long way to helping their Premiership survival bid.
He added: “I would imagine there will be a response from Rangers.
“They will be hurting after losing an Old Firm game so they will want to put that right and get back to winning ways.
“When the Old Firm come we know it’s never going to be easy. But we also know if we do our jobs properly and compete the way we know we can then we can take something from the game.
“We will be up for it – it would be great to beat Rangers. When the top teams come here we know we can compete.
“When Celtic were here the last time they were very good but Rangers, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen, we feel we can compete against them.
“We don’t want them to come here and relish the experience but that’s the same for every team.
“You want to make this a difficult place to come and ensure people know they will be in a fight.
“We’ve got to get in about Rangers and make it difficult for them then show our quality on the ball and be composed.
“It’s a great league this year. If you aren’t playing a huge club, it’s a team that is in and around you, so it’s really tight.
“There are no free hits but it is still a league we want to stay in.”