HAMILTON have graduated from the Championship to Premiership with distinction.

Now Martin Canning is urging his Accies team-mates to keep on learning to help them reach even greater heights.

The defender has led by example as Alex Neil's side have made a superb start to their campaign in the top flight after winning promotion in the most dramatic of fashions at Easter Road in May.

While most of the New Douglas Park squad enjoyed some down-time during the international break, Mickael Antoine Curier and Jesus Garcia Tena have both been putting in the hours on the training pitch on an SFA B Licence course.

And Canning reckons Accies can only benefit from more players doing likewise and acquiring an in-depth knowledge of the game from the other side of the touchline.

The 32-year-old stopper has already completed the first stage of his coaching pathway and taken his maiden steps towards the dugout with Hamilton's Academy system.

And he reckons more players should learn how to see the game from a different perspective.

Canning said: "I have earned my B Licence and I'll be looking to do the A course when I can.

"I have been coaching for the last two or three years with Hamilton's Under-17s and it is something I really enjoy.

"I like that side of the game and, as I've told the younger players, when you start on that path it broadens your horizons and helps you look at the game in a different way.

"When you do it, you stop being a footballer and you start looking at it from a coaching point of view. It helps you on the pitch and in training.

"You see things develop and it is great for every player to get involved in.

"I now hope to fit in the A Licence this season. I'll see when the next course is. If it fits in with what we are doing, I will get booked in and get it done."

If any Accies stars are thinking about a career in the dugout, they only need to look at boss Neil for inspiration.

The midfielder has done a terrific job to lead his side to second spot in the top league

And Canning admits his meticulous approach is key to their success.

"It is down to hard work and organisation," he said. "The gaffer does a lot of work on the shape of the team and making sure that everyone knows their job and does it.

"We have a lot of talented players. When they work hard, the sky is the limit for them. They can play at a higher level. They all have a good attitude, desire to work hard and ability to back it up.

"On a Monday, we will analyse the weekend game and find out where we were good, where we went wrong and where we can improve through the week.

"We spend a lot of time working on improving individually and as a team.

"On Friday we prepare for the next game by looking at the opposition and how we can implement our game plan.

"A lot goes on behind the scenes during the week. It's great when all that hard work pays off and we get a result."