‘Big blow’ as Boyle out for rest of season

Hibs will be without Martin Boyle for the remainder of the season after the club confirmed he has undergone surgery on his injured knee.

The 29-year-old picked up a knock during a 3-0 home win over St Mirren at the end of October. He missed the subsequent three games but was still called up by Australia for the World Cup.

However, the forward had to drop out of the squad ahead of the Socceroos’ opening tie against

France, instead taking on a “vibes manager” role.

The suspected meniscus injury was worse than first feared, with scans revealing a pre-existing ruptured ACL. Boyle underwent surgery in Qatar but will miss the rest of the campaign.

“It has been a tough few weeks for Martin and we are all gutted for him,” said Hibs manager Lee Johnson. “Now, it’s up to us to rally around him.

“Short term – it is a big blow for us, but we will do everything we can to support Martin to make sure he comes back fitter, stronger and a better player than before.”