LENNON BANKS ON BOYLE AS HIBERNIAN GEAR UP FOR MOLDE MISSION

BRIAN MARJORIBANKS Lennon backing in-form Hibs man to put on a show in Norway and enhance his national claims

HibERNiAN boss Neil Lennon has challenged fleetfooted Martin boyle to use tonight’s Europa League clash with Molde as a launchpad for his international career.

Rated among the finest wide players in the Premiership by Lennon, the Aberdonian qualifies to play for Scotland but could also represent Australia through his Sydney-born father Graeme.

And, should the dangerous wide man help Hibs plunder a play-off place on Norwegian soil, then Lennon believes the 25-year-old’s chances of starring on the international stage would be enhanced.

‘Right now, Martin boyle is a player at the top of his game,’ said Lennon, whose side drew 0-0 with Molde in the first leg at home.

‘He’s as good as any winger in Scotland in terms of his threat and his final ball. He’s been outstanding from the minute he stepped in the door at this football club.

‘He arrived here as a squad player and he has got better with every season. He scored a great goal against Motherwell in our opening league match of the season, and he was a real danger against Molde in the first leg. We are hoping for more of the same in Norway.

‘He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves but he is capable of playing at a higher level. There’s no question of that.

‘Can he be an international player? i don’t know but this European campaign should stand him in good stead for that.

‘He’s gaining experience. He was one of the best attacking players in the league last season and he’s picked up again where he left off.

‘He’s a real handful and i’m just glad he’s on our team.’

The first british side to play in continental competition, Hibs reached the semi-finals of the inaugural European Cup in 1956 but recent success has been harder to come by.

However, after beating NSi Runavik of the Faroe isles and Greek side Asteras Tripolis, Hibs have now played in three rounds of European football for the first time since 1972-73.

With a play-off round place at stake, most likely against Dinamo Minsk, Lennon believes tonight is the biggest match of his tenure as Hibs boss.

‘in terms of the magnitude of what is in front of us, then it is,’ the former Celtic boss agreed. ‘We have had big games domestically during my time. We’ve won promotion to the Premiership, we had a great season in the top flight last season and there have been a couple of semifinals along the way.

‘but this is European football and we are one game away from the play-offs. in terms of the profile of the club and where we want to take this team then the magnitude of Thursday night’s game is big.

‘it’s going to be a very stiff test. but Molde are beatable. All teams are beatable.’

Lennon received a boost last night as goalkeeper Adam bogdan was passed fit.

Disappointed not to have taken a lead over to Norway, Lennon now hopes the clean sheet Ross Laidlaw kept at Easter Road comes into play tonight on Molde’s artificial surface.

‘We know that if we win the game on the night or if it’s a score draw then we are through,’ said the Hibs boss. ‘We have to make the most of that platform that we have given ourselves.

‘The tie is sitting at 50-50. With Molde being at home they have a slight edge but if we score they need two. And we are capable of scoring. We have tidied up defensively in recent weeks and we always seem to create chances.

‘Of course we know the dangers. At this stage in the Europa League it’s a step up in class.

‘And we will maybe have to rely on our goalkeeper to make saves just as the Molde goalkeeper did in the first leg in Edinburgh.

‘i just hope we can stay mentally strong and remain patient on the night. And when we create chances we need to take them.’

The longest-serving player in the Hibs squad, Lewis Stevenson’s position in club folklore is already assured.

The veteran left-back is the only man to have won both the Scottish Cup and the League Cup with the Easter Road side.

Speaking in the Aker Stadion, which is surrounded by 222 mountain summits, the 30-yearold last night had his sights trained on scaling a peak of his own.

‘i think reaching the group stage of the Europa League would be the ultimate achievement,’ said Stevenson. ‘We had good success in the league last year and we have had special runs in the cups. but to do it on the European stage would be the biggest of all.

‘The last couple of seasons we have beaten a few records here and there but if we did reach the group stage it would be the biggest of them all. i didn’t realise how long it had been since the club had gone this far in Europe.

‘in previous years you would enjoy the experience of the European trips but from the start this year we’ve stated that we wanted to progress and be successful.

‘We’ve done pretty well so far and we’ve probably spent more time with each other than with our families recently. it’s a tight-knit squad and that might be the difference.’