Attitudes vital to success - manager

That’s the view of boss Gary Hamilton who has been delighted with the performance of his new recruits.

McCaul has scored six goals in five games since joining the club on loan whilst Grant has set-up six in the same number of games and both look set to be key players in the club’s quest to survive the drop.

“They’ve turned out to be two good signings,” said Glenavon gaffer Hamilton.

“All the boys that I’ve brought in have done well but those two are taking all the plaudits and rightly so. Tony’s setting them up for fun and Brian’s scoring goals for fun.

“Both of them have one thing that it takes to be a top player and that’s the right attitude. Both of them work so hard in training and away from the club as well. They keep themselves in good shape and work hard themselves.

“That’s what we’re trying to teach our young players. It was another reason for signing Tony, because I want him to show the young kids how far hard work and determination can get you.

“Players like Andrew Mitchell, Cameron Grieve and Gerard Rooney can watch Tony and see that if they work as hard as he does then they can achieve the success that he has because they have the ability.”

McCaul, of course, hit the headlines with a fantastic hat-trick to overcome Carrick on Saturday and Hamilton was understandably delighted with the midfielder’s display.

“Since Brian’s come to the club, he’s been outstanding,” he said.

“He gets himself into great positions and you can’t teach that. Probably unfairly to him, he has been played out on the right wing but it’s the sign of a good player when he can play out of position and still produce.

“He’s a great player. I watched Brian in a match for Linfield Swifts against Glentoran reserves and within five minutes I knew he was a player.

“Brian’s got great ability and he scores goals but his attitude makes him what he is. There’s a lot of players out there with ability but the attitude is what makes the difference.”

Hamilton is understandably keen to keep McCaul at the club after his loan deal runs out at the end of the season, but also points out that he can’t yet speak to the Linfield man due to the agreement with his parent club.

“I’d love to keep Brian at the club but Linfield have the first call,” he told the ‘MAIL.’

“I can’t speak in any way with Brian about it without breaking that promise with Davy (Jeffrey) but if Brian doesn’t stay at Linfield, I’d love to have him at Glenavon.

“He’s a great player with a great attitude and is the type of character I want around the club.

“If I’m truthful though, I don’t think we will have him next season. I think he’ll either get a move to one of the Big Two or down south or over to England, the way he’s going.

“If there is a situation where Linfield don’t come to an agreement with him, then of course I want to have him at Glenavon.”