Defender Ryan Porteous says that making his competitive debut for boyhood idols Hibs yesterday was a ‘dream come true.’
The youngster showed composure beyond his years in the back three and at one point had the fans cheering with a full blooded tackle.
With Paul Hanlon still coming back from injury and Efe Ambrose not yet match fit after returning late from his pre-season break, Lennon had o hesitation in selecting the highly rated teenager.
After the game Porteous told Hibs TV: “”It was a dream come true, being a lifelong Hibs’ fan. It’s what I have always wanted to achieve.
“Being out on loan last season helped me a lot to play against big Sammy Templeman up front who is a big physical presence.
“It was a good result at the end of the day with a clean sheet which was what we wanted.
“Daz (Darren McGregor) was great with non stop talking and Fonts (Liam Fontaine) was the same. They are very professional with the way they go about it. Even if I’d been Paul Hanlon or Efe Ambrose they would have been the same.
“I’d like to thank them for helping me through the game along with Davie Gray and Lewis Stevenson.
“After the game the boss said that it had been a good professional performance.
“Playing three at the back with them playing one up front gave me and Fonts the opportunity to go forward which is what the manager wanted.
“We have a good mix of players all in different positions. Fraser (Murray) was different class today. He showed his quality and composure and it was a good finish by him as well. Oli (Shaw) was a bit unlucky with his chance at the end and Scotty (Martin) can get the ball back. He is different class as is Craney (Callum Crane) who never got on today.
“It shows the faith that the manager has in the youngsters.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
