SALUTE TO GOAL MACHINE
Liam’s former coach just can’t believe he’s being ignored by big guns after outscoring £35m Hoops ace Moussa
LIAM BOYCE has been rated as the Scottish Premiership’s most valuable marksman.
And his former coach Gerard Lyttle last night said it would be madness if the country’s top clubs are not lining up to nab the Ross County hero.
Boyce’s impact this term has been phenomenal. Right now, only Scott Sinclair of Celtic has scored more top-flight goals than the Dingwall ace.
Boyce has even outgunned £35million-rated Moussa Dembele with his 20 goals this term and Lyttle insists the 26-year-old is now approaching his peak.
The striker’s impact in the Highlands has been phenomenal, typified by a four-goal haul in last weekend’s derby success over Inverness Caley Thistle.
Record Sport revealed last week that Hearts and Hibs are monitoring the attacker and Lyttle, Boyce’s former Cliftonville coach, believes the rest of the clubs should also be on red alert.
While Sinclair and Dembele were parading around the PFA Player of the Year nominations yesterday, Boyce had the overalls on working away at training with his team-mates.
Lyttle said: “It’s unbelievable. No disrespect to County, but you look at Sinclair and Dembele and they are playing alongside better players, having more of the game and getting more chances.
“Liam is playing with a team at the other end of the table, so to reach these levels and figures shows you his quality.
“I don’t know what the situation is with his contract, but if there’s not a big club coming in for Liam right now they are mad. “I’m sorry to say that for Ross County but he’s a top talent. As well as that, once you get to know him, he’s a great lad.
“He may be subdued off the pitch at times but certainly not in front of goal and the thing about it is he is only going to get better.
“Liam is maturing all the time and he’s a reaching a good age in his football career so there is more to come.”
Lyttle is delighted to see Boyce fulfilling the potential he has always possessed, yet didn’t always utilise to the maximum.
The player himself has spoken in the past about the move to Werder Bremen which – after a failed trial at Celtic – handed him a chance at the highest level in Germany not working out as he wanted.
Lyttle and Cliftonville helped the recuperation when the hitman returned home and a couple of seasons banging in goals in the Irish league and winning two titles set him back on the right road.
Now Sligo Rovers boss, Lyttle said: “Going to Germany was the best thing that happened to
Liam because he was very young. He came back from the heights of preparing properly at a top-level club in Germany to, with no disrespect to the Irish League, a set-up which is not half as professional as over there.
“Liam realised he was only training two nights a week again and might have to find a job. “It was a blessing in disguise and a wake-up call. He spent three years here and won two league titles and many trophies.
“It was a good thing and a bit of a surprise after his first season that no one came in for him. At the end of the next term it was easier when a Scottish club came in for him and they didn’t have to pay any money for him.
“Liam always wanted to be a footballer. He wanted to get away and he’s grabbed the chance with both hands.
“He was always a good lad, but he’ll tell you himself that over here, and it’s strong words, but - 21 GOALS. 6 ASSISTS. - 20 GOALS. 5 ASSISTS. - 17 GOALS. 5 ASSISTS. he probably cheated himself as he was that good.
“He could afford to get away with carrying a bit of weight and stuff, but when he went to Scotland he lost a stone and a half and he’s doing there what he was doing here. Liam is just a talented, talented boy.
“He can leap high in the air and score headed goals and he’s also got great feet as they are so quick.
“Liam’s really got everything. He finishes well, he holds the ball up and he could play No.9 or No.10 and he snaps things up in the box.
“It’s no shock how well he’s doing and he’s an international. Fair enough he hasn’t played much for Michael O’Neill but he’s always in the squad.”
Boyce is key to County’s survival hopes this term. The striker is prepared to get his head down, work hard and get his hands dirty and Lyttle insists that is down to a mindset which was planted from an early age.
Boyce said: “He’s a natural. And he’s very streetwise. I would say he’s old school and that would be down to playing football in the street as a young boy and playing five-a-sides.
“For me, there is not enough of that these days. He’s strong, he won’t be bullied, he won’t be intimidated and he doesn’t care. He’s just got total faith in his own ability.”
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