Martin Canning: No reason David Templeton can't get Scotland call-up

David Templeton has been in fine form for Hamilton recently - and his manager Martin Canning says there's no reason he couldn't get a Scotland call-up. Picture: SNS Group

The Accies boss has been thrilled with the former Hearts and Rangers playmaker’s return to form after shaking off 21 months of injury hell.

Templeton was handed November’s top performer award after netting against both Aberdeen and Rangers as his side completed the month undefeated.

His displays are reminiscent of the showings he produced during his Tynecastle days when he was regularly tipped for Scotland honours.

Templeton celebrates after scoring against Dundee. Picture: SNS Group

Now Canning - who also claimed the manager of the month prize after his side beat Rangers at Ibrox for the first time in 91 years, on top of decent draws against Aberdeen and Hibs - says there is no reason why the 28-year-old cannot finally land his long-awaited call-up.

“You never know what can happen in football,” he said. “It’s about form and how you’re playing at the time.

“For Temps, right now his main task has to be making sure he stays fit and continues to work hard both on and off the pitch to ensure he stays at his best.

“He also needs to maintain the focus that has got him into this form because he will know more than anybody that these things can come and go and you find yourself back in a dark place quite quickly.

“Hopefully if he can do that, he can continue to kick on.

“But there is no doubt he has the ability level to be an international footballer. If you look at his qualities, his feet are ridiculously quick, he makes good decisions on the ball, he’s a threat every time he gets it.”

Templeton has already confessed he feared he might have to hang up his boots after a knee injury - which was supposed to keep him out for a matter of weeks - ended up costing him almost two years of his career.

He was released by Rangers in June 2016 but saw moves to Raith Rovers, Dundee United and MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps fall through as concerns over his fitness lingered on.

But Canning is delighted the gamble he took on the forward has paid off.

The Accies boss said: “There was a point for David when he felt he might never play again never mind be called the best player in the top league, so it’s fantastic for him to win this award.

“If you go back six months when he was looking for a club, there wasn’t too many prepared to give him the opportunity.

“But we’ve taken him in and allowed him to get fit. Thankfully for us he’s starting to show us the rewards.

“That’s two 90 minutes in a row he has played so he’s getting sharper by the week.

“There obviously was a risk for us when we signed him when you look at the fact he’d hardly played for two years.

“But it was a risk we felt was worth taking because we knew the qualities David had.”