Boyle was battered but still stayed afloat
The Faroese fishermen of NSI Runavik tried to batter Martin Boyle.
But the Hibs star insists he won’t be reeled in if they cast their net in his direction again.
Boyle was kicked from pillar to post as the Hibees cruised to an easy 6-1 win over the Faroese part-timers.
But he kept his cool, even after hatchet man Einar Trondargjogv saw red for a wild lunge.
“They were physical – my legs have taken a beating!” said Boyle.
“It’s part and parcel of the game sometimes. You’ve got to take hits.
“The boy who was sent off has taken my foot home with him!
“Fortunately I saw him coming so I thought: ‘Brace yourself,’ but my team-mate ( Vykintas Slivka) didn’t help me out with a slow ball!
“It’s easy enough to get on with the game after taking those hits.
“I’m always getting fouled.
“You just have to brush them off, and keep your cool.
“There’s not much I can do about it anyway – I’m just a wee guy!
“Hopefully the rest of the team can back me up.”
Hibs will face Greek side Asteras Tripolis if they secure their passage to the next round on Thursday night.
They will be a much tougher nut to crack.
But Boyle believes Hibs’ ambition to reach the group stages is achievable.
“If we get through it will be a bigger test, but that’s why we fought so hard to get here,” he said.
“That’s what the gaffer was emphasising – you don’t want to put all your hard work last season to waste by going out early.
“We want to have a good run at it.”
Florian Kamberi bagged a hat-trick against NSI – the first Hibee to do so in Europe since Alan Gordon against Hajduk Split in 1973 – and Boyle reckons there is plenty more to come.
“He has been brilliant since he’s come in,” said Boyle. “He was delighted with his hat-trick and I think we pulled him off at just the right time because it was getting a bit scrappy.
“He could have had more goals – but we need to keep him as fit as possible.
“The club set ambitious targets in getting him back and he’s flying just now.”