Injured Hamilton Accies players have been dealt a further blow after a sickness bug ripped through New Douglas Park ahead of their Championship clash at Ayr on Saturday.
Boss John Rankin says the treatment room has been ‘wiped out’ by bugs over the last few weeks, which may have held recovery back by up to 10 days for some.
Jamie Hamilton hasn’t kicked a ball this season, Lewis Spence hasn’t featured since League Cup group stages games, and Miko Virtanen last played in the 3-1 defeat at Raith Rovers on November 5, who are just some of those who are on a lengthy list of unavailable players.
Rankin said: “The treatment room has been wiped out completely.
“We’ve had illness problems over the Christmas period with flu-like symptoms and a sickness bug, so the treatment room is completely wiped out.
“Jean-Pierre Tiehi was in there for treatment, we haven’t seen him since the Cove game [2-0 defeat on December 23], and I haven’t seen him at all.
“We’re looking at the fit ones to begin with, and Jamie Hamilton, Miko Virtanen and Lewis Spence have all had both.
“None of them are closer to being back. I saw Jamie this morning and it’s a positive to have him back in the building, but apart from that we’ve not really seen any of the injured players.
“That obviously sets them back as well, because we’re looking for them to be involved sooner or later, rather than training, but having that bug puts them back a good seven, eight or 10 days, which is unfortunate.”
Rankin says he’s also trying to bring players in, but has suffered set-backs.
“We’re working continuously,” he said. “It’s constant, the phone is going, we’re continually speaking to people.
“You think you’re getting closer and then something else pops up, so we have to be vibrant, to keep going, and hopefully we can get some bodies in and try to help us out as soon as possible.”
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