The names of both James McArthur and James McCarthy ring out from loud speakers inside stadiums around England these days.

They continue to be uttered in gushing tones within New Douglas Park too, the pair still regarded as the poster boys of the Hamilton Academical youth system despite leaving the club in 2009 and 2010, respectively. It is perhaps about time that another aspiring young player assumed that mantle.

A number of Hamilton youngsters have auditioned for the role of role model during the first months of the new season, with Hamilton at the top of the SPFL Premiership ahead of a meeting with Aberdeen tonight. The Lanarkshire side are unbeaten since the opening day of the season - when they lost at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle - and their sparkling form has been made brighter by the performances of some of their academy graduates.

Ali Crawford and Grant Gillespie were both members of the first team when Hamilton were last in the top flight and have improved during their time in the second tier, while Eamonn Brophy and Darren Lyon have also risen to prominence at the club. There is a growing anticipation that at least one of them might command the same interest, and transfer fee, as their two famous predecessors. McCarthy, who is now a Republic of Ireland internationalist, agreed a £13m move to Everton last year, while McArthur recently clinched a £7m transfer to Crystal Palace.

Their progress was celebrated by Hamilton, but the club appears to have been overtaken by Dundee United as the best nursery for talent in Scottish football. Ryan Gauld and Andy Robertson were both sold on in the summer but there are those at Hamilton who are certain that the Lanarkshire club's youngest talent will soon be just as sought after.

"I've seen the boy Gauld go to Sporting Lisbon for a lot of money, Andy Robertson to Hull as well, and there are a few others at United you keep hearing about," said Dougie Imrie, the Hamilton forward. "But we have youngsters here who are just as good. Grant Gillespie, Ali Crawford, Eamonn Brophy, Darren Lyon - there is a conveyor belt coming through right now. You see them every week playing in the SPL and they are running riot.

"They are good enough to be compared to McArthur and McCarthy who this club already produced. It is just a matter of time before other teams start sniffing about. They are not getting the praise I believe they should be right now. They are good enough to go on to bigger things but we are glad no one is picking up on them because we want to keep them as long as we can."

The 31-year-old is determined to maintain his side's recent run of form when Aberdeen visit tonight. A win tonight will keep Hamilton at the top of the league table for another week at least, with Imrie acknowledging that his team-mates have been revelling in the moment.

He has taken a moment to enjoy himself too, having returned to Hamilton following a torrid spell at Morton which ended in the club's relegation to League 1. "It was difficult at times with Morton last season. We were always losing games and couldn't get a run together," said Imrie. "Confidence was low. This season with Accies, it is the total opposite. We are flying high."