Nick Montgomery speaks on Hibs talisman return in Inverness CT win but admits ‘still raw’ at Celtic defeat
The Hibs boss was thrilled with the victory, but believed he should have had two from this week.
Nick Montgomery welcomed the return of Hibs’ “talisman” Martin Boyle, who scored against Inverness CT after returning from the Asia Cup.
Boyle led his team to a 3-1 Scottish Cup fifth round victory over Caley away from home. Monty praised the winger’s performance and emphasized his importance to the team due to his attacking skills and ability to create opportunities.
Montgomery is relieved to have the attacker back after a significant absence. “Martin is incredibly important to us. I’ve been saying it since January, when four of our boys died while on international deployment. “It’s great to have him back,” the manager stated.
“You don’t have Martin Boyle, Lewis Miller, or Rocky Bushiri; you need all of those boys fit and accessible. You can see the difference in the previous two games since Martin returned; he’s been a serious threat.
“On and off the park, he lifts people. He is a character. You miss not only the players, but also the characters.
“He is a talisman, and his speed makes him a constant threat. He is also selfless, therefore he sets and scores goals. You saw today how much he enjoys playing for Hibs and being out there; no question he has missed it over the last six weeks.”
It was a win for the Hibees a few days after their setback to league leaders Celtic, but the Englishman confesses he is still “raw” from that loss. Nonetheless, it may have motivated them today.
“I’m still disappointed that we didn’t beat Celtic in midweek.” That still feels a little raw today. I believe that motivated the boys today.
“I think we deserved two wins from this week. It’s only one win – but it’s put us through to the next round.
“There were five new players who started the game that I brought in during January. We are still getting boys fit and what I’ve lacked all season is the ability to make impact off the bench.
“I intended to make adjustments at halftime. This allowed us to play at a high level while still making adjustments as needed. I believe everyone who came on made a significant contribution to the final result.
“It’s a wonderful way to end the week. We have players back. We have a squad back together, which we did not have in January.
“Coming here on a challenging pitch never makes for an easy cup tie. But I’m quite delighted with the guys’ performance today and glad we advanced to the next round. “The job is done.”
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