Now it’s my TIME to SHINE
Crawford craves the opportunity to make a big move south like McCarthy and McArthur
THE McCarthy And McArthur Suite at Hamilton’s home stadium pays homage to two proud and profitable academy prospects and plays host to many toasts to their continued success. Accies are not shy of celebrating their former international stars.
Nor are they wary about waving a flag to alert other clubs to the ambitions of current players who might fancy their chances of a move away.
In the case of Ali Crawford, manager Martin Canning has been touting the attacking midfielder for an overdue transfer to a higher stage and expressing disbelief that the 25-year-old never comes into the conversation for Scotland recognition.
Hamilton, then, is a place where trusted and respected young employees can feel comfortable talking about attracting another club and avoid being pilloried for their aspirations.
Crawford, a scorer in Inverness yesterday, said: ‘I’m now 25 and have been here 10 years, so I’ve served my time like the others did, (James) McCarthy and (James) McArthur. They did their bit, they moved on, so that’s something I’d look to do, too.
‘I don’t know if I’ll be as big as them but I’d like to think I’ve been brought up here with a good youth system and good coaches. If I do move, I hope I’ll have the confidence and experience from that to prove myself at a higher level.
‘I’ve been a first-team regular since I was 19 or 20 and that’s given me that experience of coming up from the Championship and playing in the Premiership. I have the experience of 200-odd games for Hamilton.
‘Hopefully, that can help get me to the next stage. I want to use that experience in another league. If it’s January or next year, then so be it. If it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, then I’ve still got a year and a half left of my contract.’
Crawford is speaking ahead of a slate of fixtures that may well determine just how lofty a platform he can take his talents to once the transfer window opens in a few weeks, and how attractive an offer Accies can expect to field.
Canning’s team travel to Celtic Park on Tuesday, and host Rangers on Friday before entertaining the runaway leaders on Christmas Eve. Then it’s a trip to Aberdeen over the festive period before a Lanarkshire derby rounds off 2016.
The trio of Old Firm dates, two of them live on television, offer interested parties ample opportunity to complete their assessment of Crawford if there remains a box unticked.
Yet is there some annoyance from Crawford that scout reports have not recommended a firm bid during the eye-catching form of the past two years and he has not followed the same path south as ‘young James’ and ‘auld James’?
‘I’m not wounded about it,’ said Crawford. ‘I’ve come up from the Championship and we had a good first season with Alex Neil. I signed a three-year deal at that stage, so if there had been interest then that might have put people off as I think clubs would have had to pay a bit of money for me.
‘Now I’ve only got a year and a half left, so maybe it will be a reduced fee, depending on what Hamilton are looking for. I’d like to go to England but if another move in Scotland comes up and is what is meant to be, then so be it. I’ve no real preference.
‘Hamilton haven’t stood in players’ way in the past, so I’d like to think that if it did happen for me then they wouldn’t stand in my way. But I’m a big player for Hamilton so if I went, say, in January, it could be a big loss for the rest of their season. I’m here just now so I just have to focus on that.’
His previous of producing against the Old Firm suggests that Crawford could well seal the deal in the coming fortnight.
A stunning winner at Celtic Park two years ago saw Accies soar to the top of the table and on the opening day of this campaign, with all eyes on the return of Rangers and Joey Barton’s debut, Crawford was the outstanding performer on the pitch in addition to his goal in a 1-1 draw.
‘We’ve games coming up live on TV against the best teams in the league — that’s something you should thrive on,’ said Crawford. ‘I’ve scored against the two of them in the past, so if I can do the same that would be great. For the team, any points from these two games would be great.
‘But I think my consistency throughout the season is what has triggered teams to come and watch me. I’ve scored eight goals already.’
Silencing a big Glasgow crowd, he says, can be as much fun as hearing the cheers of a home support at the SuperSeal Stadium where he is such a favourite. ‘It’s a great feeling,’ said Crawford. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to do it against Celtic at Parkhead and Rangers at Ibrox, two of the biggest goals I’ve scored in my career.
‘Hamilton supporters are great and they follow us everywhere. But they don’t have that many fans, so you probably get more out of the mumps and moans after I score at Rangers or Celtic than the cheers you get here.
‘It’s good to get that feedback from your mates who are Celtic or Rangers fans. They’re talking about you as a good player who can play a bit and it’s nice to hear that. Hopefully, they’ll be talking about me a bit more in the coming weeks.’
Accies were burned by January departures in 2015 when Alex Neil left for Norwich and swiftly took that season’s star performer, Tony Andreu, with him. Canning, who replaced Neil, believes a deeper squad is better equipped to cope with such a high-profile departure.
That is the outcome that, sooner rather than later, he expects for 5ft 8in Crawford, a player he is convinced will not go missing in England.
‘I can understand it when you look at the size of some of these players down south but players like Ali have different tools that they use in different ways, and that’s what makes them difficult to play against.
‘He’s so intelligent and always produces. He can hurt you in a split second. He’s a special talent.’
‘I’VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS AND SERVED MY TIME LIKE THE OTHERS DID’