Hibernian have enjoyed an exceptional start to the season in Scotland, with a couple of Caltex Socceroos key to their success according to exciting winger Martin Boyle.
The 25-year-old – who has been called into his first Caltex Socceroos training camp in Dubai this week – is a teammate to Australian pair Jamie Maclaren and Mark Milligan at the Scottish Premier League outfit.
READ MORE: 'The football really attracted me': How Boyle was swayed by Arnie's Caltex Socceroos
Neil Lennon’s side have lost just one of their first eight league matches to sit second, two points behind league-leaders, and their city rivals in Edinburgh, Hearts.
“Mark’s [Milligan] done well, he’s got the experience, he’s got the ability to slow the game down, control it and not many people have that,” Boyle told www.socceroos.com.au.
“He can play in the defensive mid role, he can drop back, he’s been strolling it so far.
“He’s a standout fan favourite at the moment. Just his composure on the ball and the reading of the game.
“He’s vital to our team, he’s an out-an-out goalscorer, he’s one of a kind.
“He can have a quiet game but he’ll always get on the end of balls into the box, he’s a right predator in there.
“And that helps me, if I’m going down the wings I can just put the ball in the box and know he can be on the end of it.”
Boyle admitted he had been speaking with the Maclaren for over a year about the prospect of playing with the Caltex Socceroos.
Then a face-to-face meeting with new boss Graham Arnold recently convinced Boyle to pledge his allegiance to Australia, earning his first-call up to the national team for this week’s training camp in Dubai.
“It’s [the camp] been brilliant. The experience is once in a lifetime really,” Boyle said.
“The opportunity to represent your country, it’s a great honour. I have been welcomed in by the squad and they’ve been great with me.
“The standard is really high, the expectations of the squad is high, the manager demands a lot from the squad which is good, training has been really good, the tempo has been high.”
It’s all pointing to a big performance in Tuesday’s (AEDT) international friendly against Kuwait at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium.
Boyle won’t feature in the match as he awaits his clearance to represent the Caltex Socceroos but is looking forward to watching his new teammates in action.
“I will be back in Edinburgh [on Monday] and I will be trying to catch updates and get the game any way I can,” he said.
“The lads are looking forward to the game and they are looking to make a statement.”
