CAP FIGHT HITS BOYLING POINT
Scots boss Eck makes move to get jump on Socceroos and land Hibs ace
SCOTLAND boss Alex McLeish is set to hijack Australia’s bid to cap Hibs winger Martin Boyle.
Easter Road gaffer Neil Lennon has revealed Boyle could be at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Scots and the Socceroos.
Aussie head coach Graham Arnold looks ready to name the Hibees star, whose dad was born in Sydney, in his squad for their friendly with Kuwait next month.
However, Lennon admitted McLeish – who watched the 25-year-old during Wednesday’s League Cup loss to Aberdeen – is poised to make a late bid to snatch Boyle.
Eck will name his own squad on Monday for next month’s Nations League clash against Israel and friendly with Portugal.
Even if Boyle does play for the Aussies he would still be eligible to represent Scotland because it is not a competitive game.
And Lennon, who admitted last week Boyle had been approached by Scotland for the summer Americas tour before injury ruled him out, knows he man will soon have a big decision to make.
He said: “I’ve spoken to Alex and he was due to speak to Martin. I left him to it.
“I spoke to Martin briefly about that on Thursday night.
“I said, ‘You may get a call from Alex, so be ready if you want to speak to him or not.’ It’s down to the player’s preference.
“That’s if Alex is going to call him up, I don’t know how the conversation went. I’ve left it up to those two.
“Graham Arnold has come out publicly and he’s very pleased with what he has seen. It is great recognition for Martin. He may have a decision to make soon. Martin has been outstanding for two years.”
Another Hibee who could soon get senior recognition is Scotland Under-21 star Stevie Mallan.
But the midfielder won’t be celebrating if he scores against former club St Mirren today.
The 22-year-old said: “St Mirren are a team who are close to my heart.
“I know players who don’t celebrate scoring against their former clubs get a lot of criticism.
“I was there too long and I respect the club too much to do that.”
Meanwhile, Saints have rewarded frontman Simeon Jackson with a short-term deal after the Canada international impressed on trial.
The 31-year-old has spent the last week with the Buddies and showed what he can offer Oran Kearney’s team by netting a hat-trick against Dundee United in a bounce game.
Now he has been given the chance to win a longer stay after joining St Mirren on an initial agreement until January, with the option to extend until the end of the season written into the contract.
Kearney, who could hand Jackson his debut against Hibs, said: “He fits the bill for what we are needing at this point in time.”
Jackson’s new team-mate Paul McGinn reckons brother John’s howitzer for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend was the best goal he’s ever seen.
He said: “I don’t think you are ever going to score a better goal than John’s are you?
“I honestly don’t know if I have seen a better goal and I’m not just saying that because he is my brother.”
Martin may have a decision to make soon. He’s been outstanding NEIL LENNON