AND Hamilton Accies have won the double. Now there’s a phrase you probably won’t hear very often in your lifetime.

A Ladbrokes manager and a player of the month award on the same day? They’ll be hastily re-jigging the trophy cabinet as we write.

These were richly deserved accolades for the man at helm, Martin Canning, and the man of the moment, David Templeton, as Accies illuminated November with a string of impressive performances which included a league win over Rangers at Ibrox for the first time since 1926.

The tentative resurgence of injury-plagued Templeton has been as heart-warming as a charming nativity scene in a pleasant market town square.

The 28-year-old scored in that win over his former club Rangers and was also on the scoresheet as Accies managed a draw with Aberdeen. Templeton’s general industry and invention has been there for all to see.

While his comeback is being ushered in with a degree of caution due to the demoralising injury set-backs he has suffered in recent years, Canning is simply delighted that Hamilton’s willingness to take a chance on the fleet-footed winger is reaping some rewards.

Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards for both Hamilton and Templeton and Canning is well aware that sustained performances could have potential suitors sniffing around the Superseal Stadium again. The Accies have always been a club willing to give players a chance.

“He’d been at a few places and there weren’t many willing to take a chance and he’s now producing the form we believed he could if we could get him up to speed,” said Canning. “He can be the difference in games and he’s now completed 90 minutes back-to-back and that’s the first time he’s done that for us.

“David will get better the more he plays. He’s getting his fitness up and his sharpness is getting better but there’s more to come and that’s good for us. When Tony Andreu started banging in goals we found it difficult to hold on to him and that’s the same with any player who is shining.

“Every club in this league would expect a player to move on if that is the case but that doesn’t mean we won’t try to keep him here.

“That is going to be our first priority to keep him here as long as we can but that will be down to the powers that be and Temps to have a chat and see if we can keep him.

“He definitely adds to us but if he continues to do well and others are interested then that’s part of the game. His deal is up in the summer so we’ll see how that one goes but it goes without saying we want to keep him.

“We give people the chance to go back to where they were and allow them to showcase themselves and move on again. That’s part of our recruitment process.”

Hamilton will look to build on their recent form against St Johnstone this weekend.

“People talk about the curse of the monthly manager award but I don’t expect that to be the case,” said Canning, who is well aware of the tradition that usually sees the manager of the month lose his first game after getting the award.

“Ibrox was the highlight of the month. It was such a big thing to win there. It was a special moment but thankfully the boys have kicked on. The important thing was that it wasn’t followed by poor performances and that hasn’t happened.”