Hibs winger Martin Boyle 'still has improvement in him'

Head coach reckons winger can only get better

Jack Ross believes there is more to come from Martin Boyle

Jack Ross is confident that winger Martin Boyle can only get better after signing a new two-year deal with Hibs.

The 27-year-old has worked hard under various managers to improve his game while remaining grounded at the same time.

Hibs head coach Ross said: “He's been rewarded with a better contract and he's very much deserving of it.

"People speak about his character and how lively he is and what he brings to the club.

"He does do that, but he's also a genuinely good guy. His career path has been one of hard work but when he speaks about loyalty, I think he genuinely means it.”

The former Dundee attacker has also benefited from playing for Australia alongside quality players.

Ross continued: “He would admit that technically he's improved over the years.

"That comes with training alongside good players. His game understanding has improved and international football has helped that.

"He's still got improvement in him which is encouraging for us and the fact he feels that too is positive."

Boyle was a big miss for Hibs in the early part of last season and illustrated his importance to the team with an injury-time equaliser on his return to action after battling back from a serious knee injury for the second time in 12 months.

Ross said: “Martin doesn't give himself enough credit for bouncing back from his injuries. He probably sets an example [to other players] in a different way than he would imagine."

There was talk of Boyle moving on from Hibs as he entered the final year of his contract but Ross denied there had been any firm offers for the winger.

Ross added: “He was probably on a lot of clubs’ wishlists but there was nothing concrete that made us have to make a decision.

“There's no doubt if he had allowed his contract to run down then he would have had other suitors and they would have been good ones.

"It says a lot that he wanted to stay here. it sends a positive message to players here at the moment, and potential new recruits as well."