Hamilton midfielder James McArthur has urged anyone looking for positives in Scottish football to look no further than Lanarkshire on Saturday.

The 22-year-old will face a young Motherwell side who are the surprise package of the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League this season.

Well boss Jim Gannon played two teenagers in central defence as Motherwell beat Hearts 1-0 on Saturday, when 20-year-old Ross Forbes hit his ninth goal of the season.

The policy of giving youth its chance mirrors the attitude of Billy Reid across the M74.

Hamilton survived in the top flight for the first time since the Second World War last season with McArthur and younger friends James McCarthy and Brian Easton playing key roles.

The pair won moves to the Barclays Premier League this summer and McArthur believes both Accies and Motherwell are blazing a trail for Scottish football.

"Jim Gannon has given young boys a chance, which our gaffer promotes as well," McArthur said.

"I think it's a big thing for Scottish football that young boys are given a chance.

"They have been given a chance and look where they are in the table - they are fourth and not far off the top. It's very encouraging for Scottish football."

Hamilton go into the New Douglas Park clash on a high following their 2-0 win at in-form St Mirren, which moved them four points away from bottom club Falkirk, but McArthur is looking for further improvement.

The former Scotland Under-21 player said: "If I'm being honest, we weren't great on the day but that shows how solid we are as a unit now that we're not playing well but still winning games.

"I think there is still inconsistency in our game - we got a win against Hibs and then drew against Falkirk.

"We need to go on a run of games where we are three, four or five games undefeated. We did it last season with a run of six games.

"We know that is going to be unbelievably hard to do but we've got the players now and we're starting to be more like ourselves."

McArthur posed with Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan and war veterans as the two clubs prepare to wear jerseys embroidered with poppies on Saturday.

But he knows Accies fans will expect no such co-operation during the match.

"Everyone at the club knows they are our biggest rivals," McArthur said. "The atmosphere in the game is extra special.

"If we close them down the way we can and work as hard as we can, I'm sure we can get a result."