Fairytale return for Boyle

LEE Johnson hailed Martin Boyle for a “Roy of the Rovers” return to Hibernian after the forward marked his second debut for the club by stepping off the bench to score an equaliser against derby rivals Hearts in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The 29-year-old Australia international signed for Hibs on Saturday, just seven months after leaving to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly.

And after being introduced as a 62nd-minute replacement for Josh Campbell, fans’ favourite Boyle sparked bedlam inside a packed Easter Road as he struck with the last kick of the game to cancel out Lawrence Shankland’s opener for Hearts.

It means the Hibees have now scored crucial stoppage-time goals in both their cinch Premiership matches so far.

“It’s Roy of the Rovers stuff, isn’t it?” said manager Johnson.

“If you wrote a comic book strip and he was the star of the show, I’m not sure you could write it better than that.

“He’s buzzing, but the boys were buzzing as well when we told them yesterday (that he had signed).

“Sometimes you get ‘sliding doors’ moments, and that’s important for our journey, to continue the momentum, to continue the belief.

“It’s two games unbeaten, two 90-plus minute goals, all of a sudden the boys are lifted during the week and we can go into the next important game with a nice vibe.

“There was a bit of deliberation about whether I should play him (Boyle), from one particular key figure at the club who didn’t think I should, but I will remind him gently, very, very gently that that’s my role.”

Martin Boyle