The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Aussie call-up could boost Boyle’s game
Neil Lennon reckons an Australia call-up could take former Dundee attacker Martin Boyle’s game to another level, as the Hibs head coach revealed the flying winger was cruelly denied a Scotland debut this summer.
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold visited Hibernian’s East Mains training base last week to check up on Aussie aces Mark Milligan and Jamie Maclaren, while he took in the capital club’s 3-2 win over Kilmarnock.
Arnold is firmly interested in Boyle, who qualifies for Australia through his Sydney-born father Graeme, and Lennon has confirmed that the prospect is attractive to the 25-year-old.
Although there is red tape to be navigated – Boyle does not yet have the necessary paperwork – he could be invited to a Socceroos camp in Dubai next month in the lead-up to the friendly against Kuwait in Kuwait City on October 15.
Lennon believes it would be a richly merited reward for his progress since arriving from Dundee in January 2015 and could help him develop even further.
“We had Graham Arnold here last week checking up on Milly (Milligan) and Jamie (Maclaren) and then he came to the game against Kilmarnock,” said Lennon.
“Unfortunately Martin only lasted 45 minutes but Graham saw plenty of footage of him while he was here. He is maybe a player of interest to Australia and I think that would appeal to Martin.
“It’s great as long as he keeps his progress going and doesn’t rest on his laurels, and I don’t think he is the type to do that.
“There is still room for improvement in his game but he has been tremendous for me over the two years I have been here.
“International football would be great for his experience, especially for a country like Australia. It is a different footballing culture – although I’m not sure he speaks the language!
“If he does get called up there is a familiarity there with the boys already here. It would be great for his game.”
Yet it could have been very different if Boyle had not suffered a slight hamstring strain in Hibs’ 2-1 defeat against Hearts in the penultimate game of last term.
Lennon disclosed that Scotland wanted to call him up for the closeseason friendlies against Mexico and Peru.
“We did get a call in (from Scotland) before the trip to South America but Martin had hurt his hamstring and was unavailable,” he added.
Lennon, meanwhile, admits he was pleasantly surprised that Hibs were able to snap up a player with Champions League pedigree after securing the capture of Netherlands international left-back Miquel Nelom on a one-year deal this week.
The 27-year-old arrives after seven years in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord and will provide valuable competition for Easter Road stalwart Lewis Stevenson.
“I was a bit surprised a player of Miquel’s quality was available,” continued Lennon.
“Especially when you consider he was playing Champions League football last year.
“He has good pace and shows good composure on the ball.
“He has good experience, at 27, and he has had a good career up to now.