DOUGIE IMRIE is confident Eamonn Brophy has a bright future in the game after he made a dream first team debut this week.

The striker was handed his Hamilton bow on Wednesday night as Alex Neil's side beat Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell to book their place in the League Cup last eight.

Accies kid Craig Watson grabbed the headlines as he converted from the spot to give the hosts a 6-5 shoot-out success.

But it was Brophy who caught the eye with a superb showing at the head of the Hamilton attack.

Boss Neil was without Mickael Antoine-Curier and Jason Scotland for the derby clash and Imrie is confident there is plenty more to come from the young strike star.

He said: "I have got to give recognition to Eamonn, I thought he was outstanding.

"For a young kid to come in to that environment and make his debut and do so well against Stephen McManus and the boy Mark O'Brien, who is on loan from Derby, is great.

"McManus has played at the highest level, in the Champions League for Celtic and in top leagues in England.

"Eamonn came in on his debut and was outstanding. If he keeps that level of performance up he has got a bright future."

With one derby win under their belt, Accies head across Lanarkshire this afternoon determined to continue their stunning start this term.

Imrie said: "We can't start taking our foot off the gas and start getting complacent.

"It will come back to bite us if we do that so we will keep our feet grounded and take one game at a time."