Socceroo Boyle back to his best in Hibernian victory

Boyle's form has been questionable this season for the Edinburgh side where he's become a key figure - and a very popular one - over the years.

���� 🥶— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) One goal, two assists ⚽�🅰�🅰�Martin Boyle collects the @WhiskyRowEdin Player of the Match award! 🥃� pic.twitter.com/HxCFyIboyXDecember 21, 2024

But the Australia's Scottish-born international has endured a difficult campaign, having been benched recently while evidently dropping down the club's pecking order.

At the start of the month, manager David Gray challenged him to battle his way back into the team after the player had undergone wrist surgery in September to fix a problem he sustained pre-season.

It also kept him out of the Socceroos' squad for key World Cup qualifiers.

"He's someone that needs to just keep pushing to try and get in the team because of the strength and depth we've got in there – the wingers we've got," Gray said.

On a windy afternoon in Aberdeen, Boyle responded with a player-of-the-match performance, netting one and setting up two more for Elie Youan and Nicky Cadden as Hibs fought back from Topi Keskinen's opener for the Dons.

Aberdeen went ahead after 14 minutes through Keskinen, but Hibs responded almost instantly, Boyle cashing in on Slobodan Rubezic's mistake at the back to square the ball for Youan to slide home.

Boyle's creation of their second 10 minutes before the break was brilliant, as he tormented his marker Gavin Molloy before a pinpoint cross to the back post picked out Cadden.

Then he got in on the goalscoring act himself early in the second half, netting his third of the season in the league.

Again, the goal came courtesy of poor defending as Leighton Clarkson's loose pass in midfield was picked off by Nectarios Triantis, who slid the ball through for Boyle to fire low past Ross Doohan.

His eventful afternoon wasn't quite finished as Boyle ended up in an injury-time, off-the-ball bust-up with Jack MacKenzie, which resulted in them both being booked.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Rangers moved to second with their 1-0 win over Dundee at Ibrox, which took them above Aberdeen but they're still but they're stull on Saturday.

Vaclav Cerny scored the only goal in the first minute of the second half but the hosts spurned numerous other chances - including hitting the woodwork four times - before claiming a slender win.

The result took them above Aberdeen, but they're still eight points behind Celtic, who also have a game in hand over them.

With PA