I'm happy to set Record straight over Martin Boyle and here is why he deserves new Hibs deal - Tam McManus

I have no idea if Martin Boyle is a regular Daily Record reader.

But I have a suspicion he might just be because ever since I wrote in this column that Hibs should forget about handing him a new deal, he hasn’t stopped scoring! That was on the morning of the game against Aberdeen up at Pittodrie on December 21.

In the six games since then, Boyle’s fired five goals - including back-to-back doubles against Rangers and Motherwell. If my words have stung him into action, then I’m happy to take my share of the credit! But what’s more likely is that the stand-in Leith skipper has simply rediscovered his best form after finally overcoming some difficult injury issues. Like Martin, I was a frontman who relied on my pace so I know from experience how difficult it can be to get going when you don’t feel quite right physically.

He’s had a knee injury and a problem with his wrist lately. But I wasn’t sure if that they were really what was holding Boyle back given we were halfway through the season and he still hadn’t really make an impact.

But it’s clear now that whatever was bothering him is now gone and we’re seeing the Martin Boyle of old. And to set the Record straight, on current form of course you’d hand the 31-year-old a new contract.

His boss David Gray was playing it cool when he was asked about his talisman after the weekend win over Well. "You always want to keep players that perform like that - that's the challenge to the wee man, to make sure he keeps going," he said after watching the striker score in a 3-1 win.

I like that, because it incentivises Martin to keep his standards high. If he can do that, I’m sure Hibs will look after him. They can’t hang around too long though because his performances might also alert