Shaun Maloney has leapt to the defence of Ryan Porteous - and challenged him to prove negative perceptions of him are wrong.
The Hibs boss reckons the 23-year-old will soon become a “top international” if he continues to develop and learns to curb the emotional side of his game.
Porteous begins a four-game ban tomorrow after losing an appeal against his red card against Aberdeen. It means he will miss crucial league games against Dundee United and Hearts as well as the first two fixtures after the split.
It’s the second ban of the season for a player who has become a target for rival fans after a series of flashpoints and incidents on and off the park.
But Maloney said: “There is a perception of him. But I think some of that is from before I came here. That’s part and parcel of being a professional footballer.
“Performances when he gets back from this suspension and next season will dictate that perception. And his behaviour off the pitch.
“At times in games his levels have been really high. He just needs to keep that emotional level as neutral as possible.
“When he played Hearts here he produced a centre back performance as good as anything in the league. But within that game - the biggest game for this club - his emotional level stayed the same.
“That’s something we need to work on together. If I have him available for every game then it does have a big impact on performances and results.
“He is receptive to that. Ryan is an intelligent guy. People might have perceptions of him but my perception is that he’s intelligent and really open to learning different things.
“I believe if he stays with us next season and beyond then he will improve. He already has in the three months we have been here.
“He has good work rate. Physically he can improve, if he does all these things then I believe he can be a top international defender. It’s up to me to help him get there.”
Maloney admitted disappointment at the SFA's four-game ban handed down to the defender - but stopped short of claiming Hampden beaks treat him differently to others.
He said: “I hope not. From working with him he's a really intelligent guy, always asking questions about how we are playing. My perception of him is good.”
