Martin Boyle got the shock of his life when a Saturday night phone call told him he was playing in the Edinburgh derby - as he’d just polished off a none-too-healthy macaroni and chips.
The Hibs star made a stunning return to Scottish football after a seven-month stint in Saudi by bouncing off the bench to nab an injury-time equaliser against Hearts that had his boss Lee Johnson describing him a Roy of the Rovers. But Boyle, whose transfer was only confirmed on Saturday afternoon and who believed his role at Easter Road yesterday was to be coming onto the pitch to wave to the fans before kick-off, had to reassess the situation - and his diet - very quickly.
He smiled: “I got the call last night after my homemade macaroni and chips. That’s when I went into panic made and headed to Asda for a few bottles of water and a strawberry Yazoo. There’s nothing like Scottish football, is there?
"It was a bit bizarre. The clearance came through, so I had to get up this morning and focus on the game and the rest is history.
"The last time I kicked a ball was June 28, I went on a few holidays with the family and ticked over in the gym so I hadn’t really done too much. That’s why I was surprised to be thrown in the deep end with no armbands. Luckily, I can swim and hopefully I can kick on again.
“My head is still in a spin, I think I gave myself a migraine. I needed a defibrillator after that goal.
“That was incredible, I have never felt anything like that in my life.”
Hibs have a new manager and practically a new squad since he left in January. But Boyle is adamant he will soon get up to speed with the familiar surroundings of Easter Road and the team’s training HQ in Tranent.
He added: “It’s good the lads down there welcomed me in again and I can’t wait to get a pre-season under my belt and kick on. I don’t even know their names. They’re all great guys though. I’ll learn all of the characteristics of the boys at training. I’ve been told they’re a good bunch, and in my time here that’s always been the case.
“I’ll try and come in and shake the place up a bit. I’m sure I’ll sit down and have a talk with the club and see what we can achieve for the rest of the season.”
And the 29-year-old, who has signed a three-year deal, is adamant that Hibs are the only Scottish club in which he was interested after cutting short his stay in the Middle East. “It was always going to be Hibs,” he said. “There were photos of me in the Aberdeen end the other week but I was taking my nephews to the game as they are Aberdeen fans, so I’d like to clear that up! I was there with them and my brother in law.
“I was watching as much football as I could because when I got a break I missed it a lot and when Hibs were interested it was a no brainer for me and I just wanted to get it done as quickly as possible. It’s obviously paid off today and hopefully it can continue.
“Everyone knows the appreciation I have for the club and my main goal was to get back and push on. I’ve got a new child on the way, due in September, so all that mattered for me was to come back and settle down and enjoy the rest of my football years here.”
Having got off to a great start, Boyle is determined that this is just the beginning of a spell that can be as successful as his first at the club. He added: “It’s good to be back. The occasion spoke for itself.
“The fans came out in their numbers today and it was special for me and my family to see. To contribute and help the team was fantastic. The atmosphere at the goal and at the end and when I came on will live with me for a long time.”
Boyle had signed what was described as a ‘life-changing’ three-year deal with Al-Faisaly and although it lasted only seven months, he is adamant that he has no regrets. “I tried it. It did not really work out with the relegation and stuff like that. But I can say I tried it.
“When I knew Hibs were interested it was a no-brainer for me. To come back to a competitive league where I’m adored by the fans and my family are happy and obviously to try and kick on and be in that World Cup squad is a big thing as well.
“I don’t regret it at all. I tried it. It was a bit hot! A bit upside down in terms of training times and Ramadan and things like that. Sometimes we were kicking off Champions League games at 12 o’clock at night and training was later on.
“Basically I never saw the daylight. As you can tell, I have no tan! It was all right. I thoroughly enjoyed it, great people – it is a great club. I have not had time to wish them all the best but I will get round to that.
“I would definitely encourage it but it was a special feeling to come back.”
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