HAMILTON ACCIES will escape the pressures of the SPL this week with a sunshine break in Marbella, but the defender Chris Swailes has revealed he is staying behind as he completes work on his coaching badges.

Accies and St Mirren were locked in a tense and drab 90 minutes at New Douglas Park on Saturday afternoon.

But Swailes believes the break for the international calendar can be of benefit to Billy Reid's side, who have been like the walking wounded in recent weeks.

Midfielder James McArthur will play on until the end of the season despite requiring an operation to cure a cartilage problem.

And with a game against Celtic next on the cards for Accies and those beneath them starting to breathe down their necks, Reid needs everyone he can get.

The weekend's result was more of benefit to Hamilton than it was to St Mirren, although afterwards, Gus MacPherson was keen to emphasise that a point and a clean sheet away from home are not to be sniffed at.

But the Paisley side are just three points away from Falkirk while Accies remain in a respectable eighth place.

However, defeat to Celtic in their next league game will have Reid's side firmly in the mire again, and Swailes knows that it is vital to use this break to regroup.

"We have picked up a lot of injuries so this will come as a welcome break for us," he said. "The lads are lucky enough to enjoy a couple of days in Marbella this week which will do them the world of good.

"I'll be off down in Cardiff for a couple of days doing my coaching badges, but for those who aren't involved in international duty, it is a good chance to get a break and, hopefully, we'll come back all the better for it.

"It gives us a chance to hopefully get a few guys back a bit of training in the sunshine for most of the lads will do them good."

Meanwhile, St Mirren back-up keeper Mark Howard returned to the fray on Saturday after Chris Smith sustained a knee injury at the club's training camp in Spain last week.

Smith will see a specialist this week but Howard is locked in talks with regards the possibility of a contract extension at the club.

The 22-year-old has been frustrated at the lack of first-team chances and was non-committal about his future.

Howard said: "I'm really enjoying my time here and as long as I'm playing games, I'm happy.

"We are trying to agree a contract at the moment and they said they'll keep me posted. Talks are ongoing - very much so.

"Footballers only ever want to play games, and once you're in the team you want to keep your place.

"And once you're out the team you want to work hard to get back in it, so in my situation I just want to play games.

"There's nothing better for a footballer than to be playing games, but I'm delighted to get back in the team and to have kept a clean sheet.

Sitting on the bench is not what you want to be doing but it's part and parcel of football."