Hibs star possibly eyeing 'one last payday' as pundit sees summer platform to next move ahead of Leith exit
Hibs are set to see an experienced campaigner exit the club this summer.
Craig Moore believes Martin Boyle will use this summer’s World Cup as a launchpad for his post-Hibs career.
The Easter Road hero will leave the club for a second time this summer as his memorable association with the Premiership side from Leith comes to a close. He’s featured 401 times overall, with 108 goals, and provided an assist for Ante Suto in Saturday’s win over Kilmarnock as David Gray’s side chase Motherwell in fourth for the final European spot.
They are three points behind and take on Aberdeen ahead of battling those around them in the top six split. Clinching Europe would be a great send-off for Boyle, who is due to go with Australia to this summer’s major tournament, and Moore thinks that will be where the 32-year-old makes a move to land his next switch.
Who will Martin Boyle sign for next?
When asked if it was the time to go for Boyle, the former Socceroos and Rangers star said on Go Radio: “Yeah, I think so. Again, he's at that stage of his career, where I think he's had a tremendous run at Hibs. Obviously loves everything about his time there. But it's probably an opportunity for one last payday for Martin Boyle to be honest with you.
“I think that that'll be something that he'll potentially be exploring. He'll get an opportunity and a great platform at the World Cup this year with Australia, to hopefully get his stock up there, score a few goals. Get us through the qualifying stages. His assist was to Suto, and he was also called up for the Australian team. So there's two in the front line potentially playing for Australia. You know how I love talking about Australia!”
With the final Edinburgh derby of Boyle’s Hibs career coming in the first match of the post-split fixtures in the top six, Moore can’t wait. The former defender can see a shootout-style encounter brewing with the Easter Road hosts and Hearts packing in-form forwards like Owen Elding and Lawrence Shankland.
How will next Hibs vs Hearts fixture play out?
Moore said: “Derbies as well, it’s great when you see them in that top six, when there is so much at stake. They are great matches to watch and you just hope they are entertaining as well, not just a bore draw. I don’t see this particular match going this way as both teams have firepower at both ends. Both teams will be desperate to get one over the other. There is no doubt about that.
Former Hibs and Scotland forward Andy Walker was also on the panel and insisted the Hearts title factor will be on Easter Road minds come derby day. The Jambos sit one point clear in first ahead of this weekend’s fixtures but Rangers and Celtic are within a game of catching Derek McInnes’ team.
Walker added: “There is no one that Hibs want to beat more than Hearts. No one would want them to lift the title because they'll never hear the end of it in Edinburgh. Their greatest rivals, they had a really good victory against Hearts at Easter Road earlier this season. It was a highly entertaining game and you expect more of the same.”
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