Arnie’s Scottish Socceroo Martin Boyle brims with confidence

Martin Boyle might lack a deep understanding of Australian soccer, but the Scotsman more than makes up for it with confidence

Hibernian’s Soceroos contender Martin Boyle calls himself a defender’s nightmare

Martin Boyle might lack a deep understanding of Australian soccer and our way of life, but the Scotsman and soon-to-be Socceroo more than makes up for it with a supreme confidence in his own ability that has clearly won over coach Graham Arnold.

The 25-year-old has become a figure of fascination for fans and the media both here and in Scotland after Arnold selected him in a squad for a camp in Dubai this week in preparation for a friendly against Kuwait in Kuwait City on Tuesday morning (Australian time).

A pacy winger with skill and the ability to score cracking goals, Boyle has made a name for himself playing for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League over the past couple of seasons and came to the notice of Arnold after it was discovered his father was born in Sydney.

“I like to get into the channels, take on the opposition and get in behind the defence — I am a defender’s nightmare,” Boyle said with a real air of confidence when he spoke, via a teleconference, with the Australian media for the first time yesterday.

“The way I play with my club team, I get the ball and run at defenders and no one likes that. You can say I am a very positive person.”

Boyle revealed that his grandparents had emigrated from Scotland to Australia, where his father was born in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Balmain.

The family returned to Scotland after his grandfather died suddenly — and Boyle was born “a few years” later in Aberdeen.

He said his father has always been prepared for the time when both Scotland and Australia would come calling for his services.

“Obviously given the circumstances, we had the conversation about what would happen if the situation ever arose,” Boyle said.

“But, if you asked me three years ago if it would be Australia, I would have laughed in your face.

“It has been an incredible journey.”

At the same time as Australia began showing interest in him, Scotland manager Alex McLeish also contacted the exciting winger in an attempt to sway his decision.

But, Boyle had already been immensely impressed with Arnold.

“I was contacted by the Scotland manager but after a face-to-face with Arnie, who came to training to see me then sat down with me, he seemed really keen to have me on board,” he said.

“The style of football he wants to emulate with the team really attracted me. He said I would fit into the system really well and that I would bring a lot to this team.

“The training sessions I’ve been involved with have been brilliant. The atmosphere here is great, the players have accepted me and it is a real honour and privilege to be part of this.”

Boyle said he has not heard again from McLeish and admits it is doubtful he will.

“Obviously he has other things to worry about and I don’t know if it (Scotland approach) will ever come again, but I am pretty committed to Australia at the moment and I am only focusing on myself.”

Boyle will remain in camp until Saturday when he will return to Hibs. He won’t be involved in the game against Kuwait because his Australian citizenship papers are still being processed.

However, Arnold wants him to be involved in two friendlies in Brisbane and Sydney next month.

“The FFA is working hard to get everything cleared up in time,” Boyle said.

“It will be great to play for the Socceroos in Australia.

“My family can’t wait and they will follow me there to see me play.”

In the meantime, Boyle is also working hard on learning the Australian national anthem.