Scottish-born Martin Boyle eager to make international debut for Australia

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Andrew Nabbout has had a tough journey back to the Socceroos after his injury in the World Cup.

He set foot in Australia for the first time earlier this week but Martin Boyle could be the latest Socceroos debutant come Saturday.

The 25-year-old Scottish-born Boyle has swapped tartan for green and gold and is in the mix to line up for Graham Arnold’s men against South Korea in Brisbane.

Boyle, whose father Graeme was born in Sydney, was a part of the national team squad for Arnold’s first match in charge against Kuwait last month but was ineligible as he had yet to receive his Australian passport.

A pacey winger who can also play centre-forward, Boyle has been marked as worthy of pursuit by Arnold in his quest to solve the Socceroos’ goal scoring concerns.

Boyle has scored four goals and provided three assists in 11 Scottish Premier League games this season for Hibernian — where he plays alongside fellow Socceroos Mark Milligan and Jamie MacLaren.

“Being in the third division of Scotland years ago to the climb that’s been happening, it’s quite unimaginable,” Boyle said on Tuesday.

“If you’d asked me a few years ago if this opportunity would ever happen, from the position I was in or where I was, I’d probably have laughed at you.

“It’s been a huge rise for myself and long may it continue.”

Boyle will get his first look at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, though former Brisbane Roar striker MacLaren has already been talking up the venue.

“He’s saying he’s got a statue outside it. He’s giving it the big one,” Boyle said.

“It’ll be great to see it for myself and ideally make an impression.”

Martin Boyle
Martin Boyle, 25, set foot in Australia for the first time earlier this week.

Milligan, who joined Hibs in August, said there’s no fears over Boyle’s loyalties.

“He’s coming into training and telling me about Aussie customs,” Milligan said.

“He’s very keen and has definitely done his homework.

“He’s a very exciting young player, very positive, likes to get at goal and definitely has goals in him.”

Boyle’s father was crying tears of pride when his son left Scotland and while his dad couldn’t get time off from his lorry driving job to come to Australia, he expects he’ll be watching back home should his son get the nod.

There’s also no concerns about having to practice the national anthem.

“I know it. I’m all over it,” Boyle said.

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