3 talking points as Hibs launch roaring Conference League response with returning Martin Boyle the Easter Road hero

Boyle was back with a bang for Hibs as he fired them into the next round of the Conference League.

The winger returned to competitive action after a nine-month injury absence to bag a brace against Andorran minnows Inter Club d’Escaldes. Lee Johnson’s side managed to avoid an embarrassing Euro exit by overturning a 2-1 deficit from a week ago.

Boyle and Josh Campbell hit doubles, while Christian Doidge and Elie Youan were also on target to secure an easy 6-1 victory and 7-3 aggregate win. That set Hibs up to face either Swiss outfit Luzern or Swedish club Djurgaarden in the second qualifying round, with the first-leg at Easter Road next Thursday.

This was a much improved display from Johnson’s men, with the likes of Boyle, Newell, Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes all impressing. The one negative for the Hibees gaffer was a double keeper injury blow ahead of Sunday’s Premiership opener against St Mirren.

Regular number one David Marshall was injured in the warm-up and replaced by Jojo Wallacott. But the new boy lasted just 17 minutes and had to be replaced by fellow summer signing Max Boruc.

Incredibly, the Pole had played in a Challenge Cup tie against Formartine United at Meadowbank just 24 hours before getting his first-team bow in Europe. Boruc had little to do as Hibs cruised into the next round, with Boyle their talisman once again.

He took advantage of a mistake by Inter keeper Anna Munoz to break the deadlock early on - then scored a terrific header from Newell’s cross to make it 2-0. The home side were in total control when Doidge made it three after Will Fish’s header hit the bar.

After the break, Campbell pounced on another Inter error to head home a fourth. The midfielder got another when Youan gifted him a