Porteous set to make long-awaited return from injury
RYAN Porteous could make his first competitive appearance for Hibernian since January when the Easter Road side host Morton on Saturday.
Porteous, 20, suffered a severe knee injury in January and was forced to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
The Scotland Under-21 internationalist made a brief cameo in Hibs’ friendly against Newcastle earlier last month. However, he has not been risked in competitive first-team action.
Porteous, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes for the development squad as they defeated Dunfermline 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon and he will be in contention when Morton visit Easter Road.
Meanwhile, Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom concedes that injured winger Martin Boyle is “down” – despite putting on a brave face at the club’s training base.
The Australia internationalist is likely to be sidelined until 2020 after receiving surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus sustained during Hibs’ 2-0 Betfred Cup win against Elgin on July 26.
And, while he has sought to be his bright and bubbly self, Heckingbottom knows the latest injury setback has hit the player hard.
He said: “Martin is good after his operation. He’s been with the parents and the little one resting up.
“By all accounts everything went well – as good as we could hope. That’s the bonus but it’s but too early for him to be doing anything. He’ll start doing light things after a couple of weeks.
“What he needs is support and the family around you.
“If he is about here [Hibernian Training Centre] with the boys he’s still fantastic; a bundle of energy, bubbly and does affect the place positively.
“But I know when he is alone at home he’s down a bit and there’s no way you wouldn’t be.”