HIBS’ AMBITIOUS OUTLOOK IDEAL FOR PORTEOUS
THE new contract penned by Martin Boyle in the past few days was not only welcomed by the Hibernian fans, but it was also received enthusiastically by his satisfied team-mates.
The winger is a popular figure in the Easter Road dressing room, and an appreciated colleague on the pitch, but the manner of the agreement was also viewed as a hint of things to come for the capital club. For some, it was a strong show of intent.
Ryan Porteous is certainly one who is convinced Boyle’s long-term deal, announced in the wake of the rejection of a £500,000 bid from rivals Aberdeen for the winger, offers a glimpse into the future, and it is one in which he wants to be involved.
Along with Kevin Nisbet and Josh Doig, the defender is another of Hibs’ most saleable assets. An offer from Millwall for the 22-year-old, reportedly around £1million, was turned down in January and the
likes of QPR, Besiktas
I want to be at a club that is winning silverware every season
and Galatasaray have since been credited with an interest in acquiring his services.
It is recognition of impressive form — sufficient to force him on to the fringes of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad — but not enough to turn the head of the boyhood Hibs supporter.
Boyle’s commitment has only strengthened Porteous’ belief that the club’s ambitions — which were further bolstered by the signing on Friday of Scotland Under-21 international striker James Scott on a season-long loan from Hull City — match his own.
‘Keeping Martin was something the club wanted to get done to show what the future is going to be for the club,’ he said. ‘We want to be challenging for third place and cups every year, and Martin has been a standout for us.
‘Look at last season, his numbers were great, and his performances this season have been really good, too. So, for him to be here long-term is brilliant — there was no way I was going to let him leave!’
‘We’re not going to sell to a direct rival, it would have been stupid, he’s one of our best players — and I don’t think there was too much thought about it on Martin’s side, although I can’t speak for him. We’re happy he’s still here and I’m happy my mate is still at the club.
‘I have said before I am happy here, I feel like I am still learning and developing here a lot. I want to be at a club that is winning trophies and competing for a European place every year.
‘The ambition the club is showing, and the money they are spending, that’s where I want to be. I want to be winning silverware every season, to be as successful as I can in my career. And obviously being at a club that is ambitious is going to help that.’
Jack Ross, the Hibs manager, felt it vital last year for his players to set their own goals for the campaign ahead. An in-house meeting set lofty targets that all bought into, and many were met.
They achieved the third place in the Premiership they wanted and that brought with it the European qualification they desired. However, silverware eluded them after two semi-final defeats and one cup final loss.
In October they lost to Hearts in 2019-20 Scottish Cup semi-final in a game postponed from the previous season due to the pandemic. They went on to lose to St Johnstone in both of last season’s domestic cup competitions at the last-four stage.
Following their loss to Rijeka, their flirtation with the Europa Conference League was all too brief, but Porteous is adamant that taste of continental competition has whetted their appetite for more. They know a repeat means emulating their achievements of last term. ‘Listen, our goals probably don’t change a lot from last season’s goals,’ he added ahead of their game with Dundee today.
‘We want to finish third again, we want to win a cup. We got oh, so close in the cups and never made it. Hopefully this season we’ll have learned from that.
‘Europe was a learning curve for us. We were disappointed to be knocked out but we hope to get back again as soon as possible.’
Success brings with it more competition and as Scotland’s newly-crowned third force Hibs are now prey for opponents. Porteous is aware of that and says they are ready for the task.
‘We need to believe that if we go on to the park against any team, including the Old Firm, we’re going to get something from the game,’ he added.
‘Going away from home is never easy, especially when you’ve got a team like Dundee that has just come up, have invested in their squad and have a decent side.
‘We’ll need to be on top of our game. We saw the success we had from winning a lot of away games last season — it was a record total.
‘We want to get back to that. If we pick up a lot of points away from home then we’re not going to drop a lot at home. That will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.’