Hamilton Accies vice-captain Andy Ryan says the club's youngsters have a great chance to make a name for themselves in the game – but it’s up to them to take it.
At 27, Ryan is one of the more experienced heads in the squad, and says it was an honour to be given the vice-captain role.
Ryan says he will always be available to give advice or to show players how things are done – and they’ll be left in no uncertain terms if they’re not pulling their weight.
But ahead of today’s Premier Sports Cup clash at home to Queen’s Park, the former Airdrie and Dunfermline striker says it’s up to them to learn.
“The ball is completely in their court,” he said. “It’s how hard they want to work, how much they want it, and it will be good for them to be in about us every day, seeing how we work and the standards that we set.
“If something’s not going right in training they’ll see that. They’ll see the boys being vocal and letting their teammates know that if they’re not pulling their weight they’ll be told.
“That’s probably something they’re not used to at youth level, so it will be good to have them in that first-team environment, and hopefully they will be willing to learn.
“We can help them. In training, are they asking questions, are they watching how we move, and stuff like that.
“That’s the most important thing – they’ve got years ahead of them, but it’s up to them what they want to do with that.”
Ryan says he’s happy to fill in when captain Brian Easton isn’t available, but says it’s good to have leaders at either end of the pitch, and tries to lead by example.
He said: “If Easty’s not playing there’s a sense of responsibility on my shoulders.
“I’ve been here since I was 10 years old and getting the chance to captain the team last season was a huge honour.
“It certainly wasn’t one that I took lightly. That was a big moment for me in my career.
“I think that's the type of character I’ve developed into over the years – being vocal, trying to help, and lead by example and stuff – so it was a great honour to be given that.
“Easty is at the back end of the pitch and I’m at the top end, so it’s good to have that spread across the pitch.
“He leads by example as well – hence the reason why he’s the captain – he’s very vocal, helps the boys round about him, and I like to think I do that with the more attacking players.”
Hamilton’s goals this pre-season have come from Ryan and strike partner Andy Winter, but also from Matty Shiels and Lewis Smith, and the striker is happy to have that back-up – though it doesn’t change anything for him.
“It’s always good to know that if I’m having a bad day, or Andy Winter’s having a bad day, you know there’s possibly goals coming from other areas of the pitch, which is massive if you want to be successful," he said.
“It’s good that goals are coming from all areas of the pitch – and even with that, we could have had a higher number of goals if we took more chances.
“That takes weight off of my shoulders, but it doesn’t change my job – I’m still trying to add goals every week.
“But if those goals are coming from other areas of the pitch that’s great as well.”
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