MICKEY DEVLIN admits Hamilton's experienced trio have been crucial in helping him adjust to life in the first team.

Accies boss Billy Reid has one of the youngest squads in the country at his disposal this season, with the experience of Kevin Cuthbert, Martin Canning and Alex Neil likely to be key in the Irn-Bru First Division.

After starring on loan at Stenhousemuir last season, Devlin is making a name for himself this time out, and the 19-year-old is eager to continue learning his trade.

He said: "I have built on the experience I gained at Stenny since I came back to New Douglas Park, but I am still learning and that is why it is great to have Martin, Alex Neil and goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert in the side. They are a massive influence on me, especially playing beside them.

"Martin was a brilliant centre-half at teams like Hibs before he came to Hamilton, and he is great at telling me where I should be and what I should be doing during matches.

"Alex was as good as any midfielder in the SPL when we were there and you can only learn from him.

"And Kevin's handling in our recent win against Partick Thistle was excellent and he used his experience to calm us, and the game, down when they had a lot of pressure.

"Alex was suspended and, if we did not have the experience of Kevin and Martin playing that night, we might not have won the game."

Meanwhile, Accies are set to extend the loan of defender Jonathan Page from Motherwell for another month.