John Rankin insists he is not getting carried away with Hamilton Accies’ perfect, goal-laden start to pre-season.
The New Douglas Park outfit have taken on four games so far against varying levels of opposition and won all of them, scoring 28 goals and conceding just twice.
An opening 11-1 rout of West of Scotland League side Thorniewood United last Friday night was followed by a 3-0 win at Blantyre Victoria and a 12-0 triumph away to Newmains United, before Monday’s night’s 2-1 home win over Welsh Premier champions The New Saints.
Amongst all that has been hat-tricks for new signings Euan Henderson and Kevin O’Hara, while fellow new boy Joe McGlynn also got off the mark with goals against Newmains and The New Saints.
Much bigger tests are to follow when the competitive action gets underway and Rankin said: “The results have been good but the main thing right now is getting minutes and not getting too many injuries.
“We’ve only had a couple of niggles so far that have seen Jamie Barjonas [leg] and Dario Zanatta [back] miss out on games.
“It is a new group and they are all getting to know one another. Right now, it’s all about building confidence and camaraderie within the group.
“We’ve been here before in pre-season when you win all your games and then you get to the first game and it doesn’t happen for you, or vice-versa.
“But it is obviously great to be scoring goals and see the forwards getting on the scoresheet so early on. That will give them confidence.”
Accies head into their final week of preparation ahead of competitive action kicking off against League Two Clyde in the Viaplay League Cup on Saturday, July 15.
This Saturday Accies travel to Broadwood to take on Cumbernauld Colts and will finish off pre-season with a behind closed doors game against Kilmarnock in midweek.
Rankin added: “We are looking to get more fitness out of the Cumbernauld game, that will be the focus.
“We are trying bed ideas in, which we are beginning to see pay off. There’s lots of work to do but it is important we get more minutes under players’ belts.
“Both Dario and Barjo missed the game on Monday so it is important they get game time on Saturday and after that we’ve got a closed doors game with Killie, so we have prepared as best we can for that first game.”
Accies will start their League One campaign on August 5 at home to Cove Rangers.
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