MARTIN CANNING is still adjusting to his new work/life balance.
In addition to his ongoing responsibilities as a veteran player, the Hamilton Accies boss now spends most of his waking hours stressing about how to claim the club's first victory since replacing Alex Neil as manager.
Title-chasing Aberdeen, defeated 3-0 here earlier in the season, come into town today and it is fair to say Canning has been taking his work home with him in an attempt to remedy the Accies' six-match winless run. In particular, he has been watching numerous re-runs of recent matches to reassure himself that this is still the same Hamilton team witnessed earlier in the season.
"I was pretty much coming in, doing my training, sitting for an hour with Alex having a coffee and chat then up the road to see the kids," said Canning. "Now it's a quarter to six I leave and it's a totally different working day.
"Usually on a Saturday night I will go back and watch the match right away," he added. "But if I am sitting bored, I will stick it on the computer again. If it is a Sunday and the wife is watching the dancing or something I watch it again. I would rather watch the game five times than watch Strictly Come Dancing once!"
With top scorer Tony Andreu, who scored a double during that victory in the heady days of October, now part of Neil's squad at Norwich, and Mikael Antoine-Curier released by mutual consent at the start of February, Hamilton are struggling for goals. They have scored just once in their last five matches, but Canning is content with the amount of chances created. He also knows he can always rely on Neil for assistance.
"He is happy, he is enjoying it," said Canning. "I am an avid Norwich fan now, although getting Gary Hooper up on-loan would be good! Alex is my best mate and has been since we were ten years old. So every couple of days we will have a chat and with us football dominates the conversation. It has done since we were kids. We will always talk but in terms of advice, he is there if I need him."
While new signing Nigel Hasselbaink will be expected to help fill the void, the striking departures also offer an opportunity for Louis Longridge. This 23-year-old product of the illustrious Harmony Row boys club in Govan where Sir Alex Ferguson first came to prominence scored nine goals last season, and hopes he can benefit from a regular run of first-team action. "I am hoping I can contribute with goals because I know I can do it if the chances arrive in front of goal."
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