Canning holds Chamorro hope

Accies were forced to cancel the signing of the 25-year-old forward on Tuesday less than a month after handing him a two-year deal.

A registration issue with his former club, Spanish third-tier side Lleida Esportiu, has scuppered Canning's bid to add the frontman to his squad.

But Canning is hopeful the matter can be solved at a later date.

He said: "I think he could be someone we re-visit at a later point. The problem I believe was between the Spanish FA and FIFA but I'm not sure the exact nature of it.

"But the way it was left with Salva is that he would go back home and we would see what happens.

"He was definitely a good player and did well when he was here, so we would have liked to have got him in."

Chamorro's early exit leaves Canning with only Christian Nade, on-loan Norwich teenager Carlton Morris and young players Eamonn Brophy and Andy Ryan for forward options.

And the New Douglas Park manager, who takes his side to Ross County this Saturday after opening their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign with a goalless draw with Partick last weekend, admits he will now have to start his striker search all over again.

"We've been looking all summer for players to recruit and Salva was one of the players we managed to get in," said Canning.

"Now we'll need to have another look and I've got a few targets in mind. We'll go back to the list we had before but I'm also still trying to grow that list and see what else is out there.

"We'll just need to get back to the drawing board and start again.

"But the squad is looking good and strong. If we had to go with the squad as it is we'd be happy. If we can add another one or two then even better."

One potential newcomer is Macedonia Under-21 defender Gjoko Zajkov, who has joined Accies for a trial stint ahead of proposed loan switch from Rennes.

Canning added: "He did well in training yesterday but it is still early days."