Hibs boss hopes Porteous will pen a new deal

HIBS manager Lee Johnson insists he remains hopeful that Ryan Porteous will sign fresh terms after revealing that a contract offer has been made. The highly-rated defender has entered the final 12 months of his deal and is in no rush to commit his future to the Easter Road club. Porteous was the subject of a failed bid from Millwall in January 2021 and has been linked with other moves south of the border as well as to Belgium and Turkey. At 23, Porteous (pictured) has already racked up over 120 first-team outings for the Leith side and has been called up to several Scotland squads. Insisting he will not give up in his attempts to tie the player down on a longer deal, Johnson said: ‘Every squad has moving parts to it and Ryan is a great player. We would love to keep him but, at the same time, it’s his prerogative in terms of that contract offer. At the moment he has not signed it but we’re forever hopeful.’ Johnson still hopes to add two new faces to his squad ahead of the Premiership opener against St Johnstone at the end of this month. Despite having already recruited a host of new players including David Marshall, Marijan Cabraja, Lewis Miller, Nohan Kenneh, Aiden

McGeady, Momodou Bojang, Elie Youan and Jair Tavares, Johnson added: ‘I think I would be happy to go in with what we’ve got but ideally I’d like another two more. If it was one and the right position then that would be okay.’ Meanwhile, striker Kevin Nisbet is targeting a return to action inside three months. The 25-year-old Scotland international suffered cruciate ligament damage during a game against Celtic on February 27 but is encouraged by the progress he has made. ‘I think it’s one of the injuries where you just need to take it week by week really,’ said Nisbet. ‘I am four-and-ahalf months in now, so hopefully I have maybe another three, three and a bit to go, best-case scenario, and I can get myself back on the park as soon as possible. ‘The first three months were really hard until I saw the surgeon and he gave me the all-clear. ‘Since then I have been doing a lot more stuff in the gym and started to go out on the park as well, which is good. I have put in the hard work and it’s starting to pay off. ‘Having this injury has been a bit of an eye-opener, you appreciate football a lot more, and I can’t wait to get back.’