Roo bet we’re out to book a Euro slot
Mart eyes top four after Oz fan tribute
AUSTRALIA winger Martin Boyle is delighted to see kangaroos in the stands at Easter Road – now he’s desperate to help Hibs jump into the European places.
Fans from Down Under have bought 33 cardboard cut-out roos, costing £825, to give Boyle a reminder of Oz.
The 27-year-old got a close-up of the marvellous marsupials during Tuesday’s 2-1 friendly win over Hamilton Accies.
And Boyle, born in Aberdeen but capped four times by the Socceroos, said: “It’s unbelievable the lengths these guys go to watch us every weekend and it’s appreciated.
“I get some great messages from supporters based in Australia and hopefully they’re looking forward to the start of the season as much as we are.
“I have seen some strange things in my time at Easter Road but those kangaroos are right up there.
“They’re doing their bit for the club and it’s helping. It’s brilliant, it’s a good thing that they’ve done at the moment.
“A few of the players are going to put their families on cut-outs too. I’m going to get my daughter one as well.”
The Leith outfit have not qualified for Europe since Neil Lennon masterminded a record points tally with a fourth-place finish during the 2017/18 campaign.
Hibs defeated Runavik and Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League at the start of the following season before losing to Molde in the third qualifying round.
Disappointing fifth and seventh-place finishes in the top flight have followed but Boyle, linked with Stoke City, is hoping to set up more memorable trips abroad for Jack Ross’ men.
He said: “We want to be challenging for the top four, a Europa League slot would be brilliant.
“But as we’ve been doing every year since we’ve been back in the top flight, we’re just taking it game by game and trying to do the best we can.”
Former Easter Road boss Alan Stubbs believes his old club should be targeting a European place given their summer transfer business – especially if Hearts aren’t in the Premiership mix.
The Jambos should find out by the end of this week whether their bid to have relegation overturned is successful.
Stubbs said: “I don’t want to put any pressure on
Hibs but with their squad of players they’re going to be right up there.
“Privately, they’ll be wanting to finish around those European places – for what they are and the players they’ve got. Especially with Hearts not being there at the moment, if that does end up being the case.
“They’ll be fighting it out with Aberdeen. Motherwell and Livingston.”
Boss Ross has made three additions to his squad ahead of the new season kicking off on Saturday, August 1. Striker Kevin Nisbet was the headline capture after Hibs shelled out £250,000 to lure him from Dunfermline. Drey Wright has penned a two-year deal after leaving
St Johnstone but perhaps most crucial is the arrival of Alex Gogic.
The tough-tackling midfielder has been brought in to plug the gap left in the middle of the park after previous gaffer Paul Heckingbottom let Marvin Bartley and Mark Milligan leave.
Stubbs knows Gogic well because he was a team-mate of his son Sam at Accies last season.
The ex-St Mirren boss said: “I’ve seen a lot of Gogic and he’s what Hibs need, that holding midfield player who does a lot of the dirty work but does it efficiently. He’s a good signing.
“Nisbet did well in the Championship so it’ll be interesting to see how he does alongside Christian Doidge because if they pay as a two they could be a real handful for a lot of opposition.
“Hibs have done their business early and are geared up for a good year.”
I have seen some strange things here but those kangaroos are up there
MARTIN BOYLE ON THE NEW AUSSIE CUT-OUTS