Canning cautious about competing with Rino for job
Matthews has battled injury this term but the Celtic full-back was on hand to hit the opener MARTIN CANNING is not convinced whether he is willing to compete with the glamour names in the frame to become the new Hamilton Accies boss.
Former Rangers midfielder Rino Gattuso is one of the 60 hopefuls offering their services to the New Douglas Park board to replace Alex Neil.
The deadline for applications has been set for Wednesday, with player/interim coach Canning set to take the team again for the midweek trip to Partick Thistle.
Neil’s assistant Frankie McAvoy is due to join Norwich City in a fortnight, by which time Canning’s own future role with Hamilton should be much clearer.
‘It is all credit to Hamilton and a reflection on how they have gone about their business the past couple of years that the profile of the club is high enough for guys of (Gattuso’s) calibre to be associated with the job,’ said Canning, who oversaw yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Celtic.
‘In terms of personally, it doesn’t affect me at all. I haven’t even had time to sit down with my wife and talk about it.
‘There is a lot to think about because it would be a complete change for me. As and when the question is asked, I’ll decide what way I want to go and what I think is best for me.
‘I’m just doing things as I’m told, day-to-day, to prepare the boys as best I can along with Frankie.
‘I couldn’t have been more proud of the boys out there because it’s unsettling for them not knowing what is happening — but they were still prepared to put in the shift they did.
‘Performance-wise, I was happy. With a bit of composure in the final third, we potentially could have scored and that would have changed the game.
‘But I’m really pleased with the way we stuck in and went about our business.’
Celtic made the points safe thanks to Liam Henderson’s 50th-minute strike.
The 18-year-old had only made two Premiership starts under Ronny Deila but is firmly in favour now and reckons that it is a reward for his training-ground efforts.
Henderson said: ‘The manager has thrown me in when we’ve needed to win games, so that has given me even more confidence and I’m delighted to be involved.
‘The manager says if you are training well, then you’ll play. He has obviously noticed my hard work and I’m pleased that he has given me the opportunity.
‘It’s good to keep your place but there are experienced boys around and it’s a squad game at the end of the day.
‘I didn’t find the first half of the season disappointing at all. Last season, I got put in the team when the league was virtually won, so I knew I had to come back and prove myself again — which I think I have done.’
Henderson played on the left of a front three that featured Kris Commons, who could leave for Bolton before the end of the month.
That would end an impressive four-year stay at Celtic for Commons, who arrived for a bargain £300,000 from Derby County.
When asked if that represented one of the best pieces of business ever by the club, Henderson said: ‘Yes, I think so. I think he has repaid the club with his goals.
‘He has been excellent. He is brilliant with the young boys. Every day in training, he speaks to you and is a tremendous guy on and off the pitch.
‘He’s a massive player for us. It’s been really good for me, he’s helped me out a lot.
‘It would be a big loss for us. He is a great player, with assists and goals. If he does leave, it will be sad to see him go but, personally, I don’t think he will go.’