BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
PROUD dad Paul Hanlon has joked that he risked the wrath of his wife as they basked in the arrival of their first baby – by trying to keep track of Hibernian’s fortunes against Kilmarnock.
The 28-year-old had an understandable excuse for missing the capital club’s 2-2 draw in Ayrshire, having been at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary with new mum Danielle until 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning – leaving him in no state to line up in Ayrshire mere hours later.
The customary sleepless nights and stresses have come thick and fast over the weekend as the Hanlons adjust to life with their as yet unnamed son.
Nevertheless, the Hibees stalwart did try to keep a beady eye on his teammates fortunes.
Hanlon said: “The last couple of nights have had plenty of broken sleep, which is not what I’m used to, but it’s all worth it.
“He’s a baby boy, but he doesn’t have a name yet. Hopefully we’ll get that sorted in the next couple of days. He arrived on Friday night and Danielle had quite a long labour, starting around half-past four on Thursday afternoon and finishing on Friday night.
“There was no sleep or eating during that time, just grinding through with her. I didn’t get back in the house until around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday so when it came to an early kick-off against Kilmarnock, I wouldn’t have been in any fit state to play.
“I tried to leave it as late as possible, but I had to text the physio to say there’s no way I could do it, especially getting through to Kilmarnock. You don’t want to let people down.
“I never even watched the game, I was in the post-natal ward with her and the wee man all day. I was trying to keep an eye on it, but the signal in the hospital wasn’t great. It was one of those: she’s in pain and can’t get out her bed – and I’m trying to keep up with the score!”
And there was no hard feelings from gaffer Neil Lennon, despite being left one player short for the encounter against Killie, with Hanlon smiling: “As soon as I came in on Monday, the manager was congratulating me and asking me all about it, so it’s all fine. Then again, I’ve not asked for my two weeks’ paternity leave yet!”
The absence of Hanlon was somewhat assuaged by the continued development of Scotland under-19s captain Ryan Porteous, who scored his third goal for the club and continues to turn in displays in the heart of defence which bely his age of 18.
Hanlon is adamant the youngster is miles ahead of where he was as a talented teenager and, conceding he faces a battle to get back in the side, he reckons Porteous is destined for the very top.
He continued: “He puts his body on the line, he is fearless and has that confidence you need as a young player coming through. It’s even tougher as a centre-half and a lot of managers are reluctant to put younger players in at centre-half but he has shown that he can handle it.
“I’m sure he’ll have a massive future here and there is no doubt in my mind he could go even higher.
“Ryan is doing a great job and putting real pressure on the more experienced boys to get in the team. Hopefully he he keeps progressing. I’ve said to him: he’s 18 and, looking back at myself at that age, I was playing at left-back and hadn’t even started playing centre-half. He’s a good bit ahead of me at that age.”
Regardless of sleep deprivation and daddy duties, Hanlon will be back in contention to face Hamilton at Easter Road tonight, seeking to eat into the gap to Rangers and Aberdeen as he eyes a grandstand finale to an impressive campaign.
He added: “Chipping away at Aberdeen and Rangers has to be the aim, there is no point looking behind you.
“We need to look above us and we have a good run of fixtures coming up before the split. It is coming thick and fast and we are in the final stage. Once that split comes, we are all playing each other and you have a chance to push on. I don’t see any reason why not.”
