Martin Canning admits that Hamilton are expecting James McArthur to depart the club this summer.
Midfielder expected to leave Hamilton
Defender Martin Canning admits that Hamilton are expecting highly-rated midfielder James McArthur to depart the club this summer.
Speculation has long surrounded the future of the 22-year-old vice-captain, who joined the club as a youth team player back in 2003.
He made his first-team debut in January 2005 and has been an established member of the squad ever since.
Leeds United are the most recent club reportedly linked with the player as have the likes of West Brom, Sunderland and SPL champions Rangers.
Accies risk losing McArthur for nothing next summer if he does not seal a move elsewhere, and Canning believes it is only a matter of time before he makes the next step in his career.
Canning said: "You've got to look back to last season, with Brian Easton and James McCarthy. Both of them were back for pre-season and both of them left.
"So I don't think it's any big surprise that he's not away yet and I don't think it means he won't go.
"I think most people are resigned to losing him.
"We would love him to stay but I think everybody accepts that he has done great for Hamilton and the time is right for him now to move on and test himself at a higher level."
Blow
Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny is another player who has been linked with a move away from the SPL side and Canning believes it would be a huge blow to lose the Czech stopper.
"It would be a big loss to the team if we lost Thomas and James," he admitted.
"The two boys have been excellent for us and if they get an opportunity to move up and better themselves, it's something they've got to take.
"From the club's point of view, it would be disappointing to lose two excellent players."
Canning's own future, however, lies firmly with Accies after signing a new two-year deal last week.
"I was delighted to get it all sorted and taken care of," said the 28-year old.
"A two-year deal for me is a good bit of security and hopefully the club can progress over the next couple of years and I can play most games and do well."
Progress
Canning has high hopes that the club can progress even further after finishing an impressive seventh in the SPL last season.
"We've always got to try and progress and do better than we did the season before, as we did last season," he said.
"It's going to be difficult this season, having finished the season so strongly. But it's something we've got to try to achieve.
"All the boys are hungry and want to do better than they did before so we will be going all out to try to finish in the top six.
"It would be a huge achievement if we could so that and everybody will give it their best."
