Hibs winger Martin Boyle suffered an injury setback in the Hibees’ recent League Cup clash with Elgin City.
The Australian went down holding the knee he had an operation on at the start of the year. He was swiftly taken off the pitch by the Hibs medical staff.
Paul Heckingbottom confirmed to the Edinburgh Evening News shortly after the game that the club will need to assess Boyle after his awkward fall.
Heckingbottom recently told the BBC that Hibs had all but finished their summer shopping. Could a potential injury relapse, however, force Heckingbottom back into the transfer market?
Hibs should have a transfer market plan if Boyle is out again
Hopefully the injury isn’t too serious for Boyle. He’s been out injured since the turn of this year and only recently started getting first team minutes again.
On his day he can change games for Hibs with his pace and dribbling. Both parties will hope this isn’t a similar injury to the one he had just recovered from.
If it is worst case scenario though, Heckingbottom should have alternatives in place. Without Boyle, he only has Joe Newell and Daryl Horgan to turn to as out and out wingers.
An argument could be made that Hibs need a winger even with a fully fit Boyle. If the Australian is injured, then Heckingbottom should definitely have a pacey option out on either flank listed as a potential transfer target.
It would be brilliant if Boyle isn’t affected too badly from this knock. To prepare himself for all outcomes though, a winger has to be on Heckingbottom’s transfer list, should Boyle be sidelined for a period of time.