‘Unacceptable’
Lennon furious with SFA after defender Porteous played for Under-21s in Toulon while injured Hibs boss also lashes out at extra ban for his ‘aeroplane’ celebration
THE domestic season has yet to begin — but that has not stopped Neil Lennon from going on the warpath with the SFA.
The Hibernian manager has expressed his anger about the way in which defender Ryan Porteous was treated while on duty with the Scotland Under-21s at the Toulon tournament earlier this summer.
And Lennon also insists that he is not happy with being handed a three-game ban by Hampden officials for his on-field ‘aeroplane’ celebrations following his team’s 5-5 draw with Rangers in May.
But it is the treatment of Porteous (below) which seems to have infuriated Lennon more than anything, with the player having missed all of the club’s pre-season programme.
The highly-rated 19-year-old centre-half damaged the cartilage in his knee during the opening game of the Toulon tournament against Togo.
But he was still selected for the remaining matches against France, South Korea and England — despite scans clearly showing he had an injury.
Now Lennon has criticised the Scotland Under-21 coaching and medical staff, who are managed by Scot Gemmill, for further aggravating the injury.
With Porteous having yet to return ahead of tonight’s Europa League qualifier against NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands, the Hibs boss said: ‘I am not happy at all with the way Ryan has been treated.
‘He has been out since the end of May and is only just back on the training pitch now, so that is a good seven weeks. He has missed all of the pre-season.
‘I’m not happy with the way he has been treated and I’m not happy with the way the club has been treated because I’ve had no communication from them (SFA).
‘I’ve asked for a report from the Scotland medical team explaining why he played the games when scans showed he had a tear in his cartilage. ‘There’s been no phone call, no courtesy call. Nothing. ‘My physio was out there with the England Under-21s and was mortified when he realised the extent of the injury. ‘Ryan had a bit of a problem going out there but nothing major. It wouldn’t have stopped him from playing. ‘They played him in a couple of games when they were fully aware that he had a problem with the cartilage in his knee — that’s not right.
‘I didn’t find any of this out until we came back to training on June 18. I got nothing from the SFA, not one call or email or anything. You would expect at least some kind of courtesy call.
‘He may be fit for next week but it’s still unacceptable in my view. Not only could he have done a lot of damage, it may have forced me to go out and buy a player on the back of it.
‘I’m all for them going to play for their country but they need to be looked after the right way. I don’t think that’s been the case.’
Lennon also took aim at the SFA over the touchline suspension for his celebrations following the 5-5 draw with Rangers on the final day of the season. He received a one-match ban on top of a suspended two-game ban which kicked in when he was charged with misconduct.
‘I’m not happy with the ban,’ he said. ‘Obviously I had a suspension which I knew would kick in but, the extra game, I thought common sense would have prevailed.’
Lennon’s men begin their European campaign this evening by hosting the Faroe Islands minnows at Easter Road.
The Hibs boss is conscious of not squandering all of the hard work from last season, when his team secured a fourth-placed finish in their first season back in the top flight.
‘I would like a victory and a clean sheet,’ added Lennon.
‘Any victory would be good but, at home, you are always looking to build a nice lead to take with you.
‘These ties can often be fraught, we know that. But we go in as favourites and a victory and a clean sheet is what I’m looking for, ideally.
‘We won’t be taking anything for granted, I can assure you of that. We want to progress.
‘The players have earned the right to be here because we had a great season and they have done some brilliant things at the club over the past few years.
‘The first objective is to try to reach the group stage. We know it’ll be very difficult. But the more games you play, the more confident you become and it really sets you up for a good season.’