Martin Boyle proves Hibs Greatest Showman as Lee Johnson compares him to Fringe jokers

Lee Johnson reckons funny man Martin Boyle is so good at lifting the mood around Easter Road he could do a nifty sideline at the Fringe.

The Hibs boss admitted the defeat at Livingston at the weekend was no laughing matter but the cameo from the returning attacker suggested it won’t be long before the fans are smiling again. Boyle is still building his match fitness after missing out on a pre-season while he sorted out his Edinburgh comeback from Saudi Arabia.

But he’s getting closer by the day and his manager is convinced he can entertain the squad and shine on the big stage. Johnson said: “He’s just bouncing around. He is just funny. He has these quick one liners. Bojang had sat on his table today but then saw Lewis Miller sat on his own so Bojang went to sit with Lewis Miller and all I could hear was Boyler shouting: ‘That’s not good enough, you don’t want to sit with me then?’ That’s a very small incident, it's those type of things, then all of a sudden it’s part of the conversation. He is over there talking about a Croatian, an Australian and a Gambian sat at the same table then he is making jokes, ‘A Gambian, blah blah’, that sounds like an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman.

“It’s like going to the Fringe and seeing someone like him interact with the crowd, a comedian. I’m always shaking my head or laughing.” The Hibs start to the season has been more a drama than a comedy so far with Premier Sports Cup pain and Premiership promise before the slip up at Livi.

Johnson has built a young squad though that may take time to settle – but that’s where Boyle can have a key role. The boss said: “The atmosphere has risen, from the moment I'd told the lads that I'd signed him, you could feel it. We were training at