BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
MYLES HIPPOLYTE has already lent his name to our national dish – now the Falkirk ace is dreaming of seeing it on the back of a Scotland shirt.
The 22-year-old is spoilt for choice as he weighs up his international future, with the winger in constant communication with the FA in Grenada, where his mother was born.
Englishman Hippolyte could also commit to the island paradise of St Lucia due to his dad, Johnson.
However, in an extraordinary twist, he has revealed that he could be eligible for Scotland.
Hippolyte was speaking at local restaurant Benny D’s, which has a ‘Hippolyte Haggis’ on their menu, as he received player of the round for his heroics in Falkirk’s 2-0 Irn-Bru Cup win over Dunfermline.
He said: “There are a few countries I can represent. I need confirmation, but I think Scotland is one of them.
“If that is the case then hopefully that’s something that might happen in the future. I’d love that. My mum’s surname is McLeish, I think from my Grandad, so we’re trying to check that out.
“At the moment I’m focused on Falkirk and trying to force my way into the team on a regular basis but we’ll see what happens in the future.
“I knew from a young age that I had a Scottish link, but it wasn’t until I came up here that the thought progressed to actually playing for the national team. You never know.”
Hippolyte was actually called up by Grenada two years ago as they embarked on their World Cup 2018 campaign, which ultimately ended in failure when they were dumped out by Haiti.
Club commitments meant he felt unable to attend, however it is an avenue which remains open.
He smiled: “I got the call-up from Grenada back when I first went to Livingston. I’ve been in contact with them ever since but I’ve never felt it was the right step in my career yet.
“When I have been called up it’s always been at crucial points in the season, when we’ve had big games or I’ve just started getting a run in the team. I’ve not wanted to miss those opportunities.
“I also qualify for St Lucia and England and I’d love to play international football one day, definitely.
“I have friends over in Grenada. They show me the pictures and it looks fantastic. That opportunity will always be there, going by what they’ve said.”
However, Hippolyte, who is the Bairns’ top scorer with five goals this term, insists sparking a Falkirk revival is his top priority.
Paul Hartley’s first game in charge proved an anti-climax, with the Bairns playing out a 0-0 draw against fellow shock strugglers Inverness, who deserved to claim all three points.
Nevertheless, Hippolyte has raved about the impact of the new man at the helm and insists the players can live up to his demands to mount a charge for the playoff places.
He added: “He’s set the bar high – but we should, with the players we have. It’s been tough and we’re in a bad position but we’re trying to get back into the play-off spots and, ultimately, win promotion. The manager seems to have belief in all the players. We’ve just been in a rut and hopefully that’s coming to an end.”
