DAD PERSUADED ME TO QUIT DONS FOR HIBS

RYAN PORTEOUS has revealed he owes his Hibs career to his dad.

The 21-year-old has become synonymous with the Easter Road outfit since emerging through the youth ranks but was on the books of Aberdeen as a kid.

He joined the Dons after impressing for boys’ club Edina Hibs and, despite persistent interest from the club he grew up supporting, Porteous was reluctant to leave his friends behind in the Granite City.

But dad Tom finally put his foot down and told Porteous his future lay back in the capital.

Porteous said: “I remember my dad telling me Hibs were interested. Although I was a massive Hibs fan I didn’t want to leave my pals and go to something

new so I stuck it out at Aberdeen for another six months.

“That was until my dad said, ‘Listen, son, you’re going to Hibs and that’s the end of it’. I was a bit nervous to go at first but it was an absolute no-brainer looking back and I have to thank my dad for that.”

After entering the Hibs academy at 13, Porteous quickly rose through the ranks and, following a formative campaign on loan with Edinburgh City, he made his senior debut for the Easter Road outfit in July 2017.

He has gone on to make 43 firstteam appearances and has paid tribute to the stars who aided his progress. Porteous said: “Paul Hanlon and Daz McGregor were always brilliant with me.

“When I was coming through there were a lot of big personalities in the changing room, people like Grant Holt, John McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and Fraser Fyvie.

“I remember John and Grant putting their arm round me at times.

“Big Brian Graham was brilliant too. He always dished it out but told me to give it back to him.

“John at quite a young age was a great help and you can see that with what he’s achieved now.”