Scotland can still produce young talent to fill sides in the SPL

Hamilton midfielder James McArthur can see good things coming out of Scottish football and points to Saturday's game against Motherwell as somewhere the cynics who say the game is dying will see positives for the future. Hamilton will take on a young Motherwell side who are the surprise package of the SPL this season. Motherwell manager Jim Gannon entrusted central defence to two teenagers when the Lanarkshire side beat Hearts 1-0 on Saturday. The only goal of the game was scored by Ross Forbes who is just out of his teens and that was his ninth goal of the season. Gannon's policy of giving youth its chance mirrors the attitude of Billy Reid across the M74. Hamilton secured safety in the top flight last season for the first time since the Second World War as McArthur and younger friends James McCarthy and Brian Easton played key roles. The pair won moves to the Barclays Premier League this summer and McArthur believes both Accies and Motherwell are blazing a trail for Scottish football. McArthur said: "Jim Gannon has given young boys a chance, which our gaffer promotes as well. I think it's a big thing for Scottish football that young boys are given a chance. They have been given a chance and look where they are in the table - they are fourth and not far off the top. It's very encouraging for Scottish football."

Hamilton go into the New Douglas Park game on a high following their 2-0 win at in-form St Mirren, which moved them four points away from bottom club Falkirk, but McArthur is looking for further improvement. The former Scotland Under-21 player said: "If I'm being honest, we weren't great on the day but that shows how solid we are as a unit now that we're not playing well but still winning games. I think there is still inconsistency in our game - we got a win against Hibs and then drew against Falkirk. We need to go on a run of games where we are three, four or five games undefeated. We did it last season with a run of six games. We know that is going to be unbelievably hard to do but we've got the players now and we're starting to be more like ourselves."

While thoughts may be elsewhere ahead to the game as both sides will wear jerseys embroidered with poppies on Saturday, McArthur knows Accies fans will expect no mercy for the opposition during the game. McArthur said: "Everyone at the club knows they are our biggest rivals. The atmosphere in the game is extra special. If we close them down the way we can and work as hard as we can, I'm sure we can get a result."

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