Arnold eyes off Scottish speedster Martin Boyle

Graham Arnold’s search for an extra edge in attack has landed in Scotland as he eyes off Hibernian winger Martin Boyle.

Speedy Hibernian attacker Martin Boyle is a contender for the Socceroos

Graham Arnold’s search for an extra edge in attack has landed in Scotland with the Socceroos coach eyeing off Hibernian winger Martin Boyle as a potential national team player.

The Australian understands Arnold visited Boyle recently following the successful training camp in Turkey and sounded him out about the possibility of playing for Australia.

While the 25-year-old was born in Aberdeen his father Graeme was born in Sydney. He has only played at under-16 level for Scotland.

Boyle had come to the attention of the Australian team management when Ange Postecoglou was in charge last year and there were suggestions earlier this year that he was in contention for the World Cup in Russia under caretaker Bert van Marwijk. But nothing came of it.

However Arnold, who took over from the Dutchman in July, has admitted he is determined to search far and wide for players, especially those who can make a difference in the attacking third of the field.

It is believed Boyle, a speedy right-sided winger who can also play as a forward, could be invited to a Socceroos camp in Dubai next month in the lead-up to the friendly against Kuwait in Kuwait City on October 15 so that Arnold can get a closer look at him.

While it is highly unlikely he would be available for the Kuwait game as there is still some considerable red tape to go through before he is eligible, there is a suggestion the way might be cleared so that he would be in the frame for friendlies against South Korea at Suncorp Stadium on November 17 and Tim Cahill’s farewell against Lebanon at ANZ Stadium three days later.

Boyle, who plays alongside Socceroo striker Jamie Maclaren at Hibs, has expressed a keen interest in playing for the Socceroos.

“Apparently I am eligible through my dad being born in Australia and if anything came about I’d probably grasp it with both hands,” Boyle told the Edinburgh Evening News in January when the Socceroos connection was first mooted. “If they were to know that I am eligible then, who knows, they might have a look at me as well.

“I don’t know what the possibilities are, but I’m sure it’s something that could be sorted out if the situation were ever to arise. To play for any country would be a great honour and I still have family in Australia. Any international game would be a pleasure to play in.

“If both Scotland and Australia came up, I’d have to weigh it up and see what the best route is to go down, but it is all just a big if at the moment.”

Boyle started his professional career in 2009 with Montrose, making his senior debut as a 16-year-old. He joined Dundee in 2012 and had loan spells back at Montrose and Hibernian before joining Hibs fulltime in 2015.

He has played 98 league games for the club, scoring 20 goals.

A direct runner with pace and the ability to put in dangerous crosses, Boyle has been in great form with Hibs this season.