Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says bringing in better players has raised the standards and changed the mentality of his squad.
Accies are on a run of five league games without defeat – with four wins and a draw in that sequence – and just one defeat against Hearts in the Scottish Cup in their last nine in all competitions.
That has taken them off the foot of the Championship table as they welcome league leaders Queen’s Park to New Douglas Park tomorrow, and Rankin says it’s credit to the players, who have hit the ground running.
Connor Smith has come in on loan from Hearts, Dylan McGowan from Kilmarnock and Tom Sparrow from Stoke City.
Dylan Stephenson came in from Newcastle on loan, and Reghan Tumilty has signed a short-term contract after leaving Hartlepool United.
Rankin says midfielder Lucas De Bolle, who is also on loan from Newcastle, is included in that group of players having missed a large chunk of the season with concussion issues, while midfielder Steve Lawson returned from injury in the 2-1 win over Inverness on Tuesday.
Rankin said: “It was all about changing the mentality that we had, and players coming in and making an impact.
“The players that have come in and made an impact, and I add Lucas to that because he never played in the first part of the season, so it’s almost like six new signings.
“They’ve all made an impact, and hopefully that continues.
“Players take a wee while to get used to one another but I also think good players like to play with good players.
“When you bring in good ones like we have, that adds to players putting a wee bit more in, a standard lifting in training and there’s a competition for places.
“We’re now getting players back from injury. We got Steve Lawson back last week, who was an ever-present in the first part of the season, and it was brilliant to get him back on the training pitch.
“In the first part of the season it always seemed to be that someone was getting injured.
“The squad is looking strong now, there’s competition for places, and that’s now bringing the standard up.
“Players go out on the pitch knowing that after 60 minutes there’s somebody ready to take their place if they’re knackered, so we ask them to go and give us everything for as long as they can.”
Rankin is still keen to add to his squad, but says it has been difficult and they are running out of time.
He said: “There’s not a lot available and we’re getting near the end of the window. We’re still working hard on it, but it’s tough.
“We’re open to anything, and we’ve highlighted players that would interest us.
“Some are at a higher level and reluctant to make the move, others are wanting to fight for their place, and if you need to persuade them, it’s not really ones you’re looking to bring in.
“I’m looking for someone who wants to come straight away and help us, and with the other guys that we’ve brought in that has been the case.”
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