BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
HIBS head coach Neil Lennon last night revealed that Martin Boyle has agreed a new contract with the capital club.
Boyle, 24, only penned a two-year deal during the summer, however he has dazzled the Northern Irishman with a host of superb displays this term, notching five goals and nine assists.
And he has been rewarded with an extension until 2021.
Lennon said: “There has just been a huge improvement in him. He was always on his backside when I came in! He has learned to stay on his feet and I think he has worked hard on that over the summer.
“Don’t get me wrong, he is still six stone wet through! However, he can ride challenges.
“He brings us real pace and power and fits very well into our system so I’m delighted he’s agreed to the new contract.”
Lennon also revealed that the Hibees have tabled a verbal offer to tie classy midfielder Dylan McGeouch to the Easter Road club, with his current contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, and has held tentative talks with John McGinn.
Lennon laughed: “I’ve spoken to John [McGinn] on a personal level – but he hasn’t got back to me yet! We will see how that pans out.
“We haven’t had any contact from a club for John, but that wouldn’t surprise me. We’ll keep dialogue open with John and his representative.
“Dylan knows we would like him to stay. There was a period where Dylan hadn’t played six or seven games in a row in his entire career, he was coming off in training with little niggles and it was very frustrating.
“However, he has been excellent this season and verbally there is an offer from us to extend his contract, whether he wants to take that or not will be upto him.”
Lennon was addressing supporters at Hibs’ annual general meeting at Easter Road, as shareholders signed off on accounts for the year ending 2017 which showed a loss of £277,000. Nevertheless, that will not preclude January reinforcements.
He added: “It’s all about balancing the books. If a player who comes up who we think is valuable and would add something to the squad, and we can do the deal, then we will actively pursue that in January. But our squad is very healthy, with good strength in depth in at the moment.”
