Martin Boyle's sensational Hibs return joins 4 homecoming heroes who mocked the 'never go back' theory

They say you should never go back.

But Martin Boyle blew that theory out of the water after his heroic Hibs return. The Australian international returned on a three-year deal after an ill-fated six month stint in Saudi Arabia that saw former club Al Faisaly relegated. He was only registered to play in time to face Hearts a few hours before the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

He was introduced with the Hibees trailing 1-0 after Lawrence Shankland ’s maiden league striker in maroon had given the jambos a half-time lead. That looked like being enough to secure a third derby win on the trot for the Tynecastle club as the five minutes of stoppage time ticked down. But Boyle got on the end of an Elie Youan cutback to snatch a point with the final kick of the game and send three quarters of Easter Road wild with delight.

Lee Johnson admitted afterwards that one member of the Hibs hierarchy urged him not to pitch Boyle into the derby so soon after coming back from the Gulf. But Johnson was proved correct after the 29-year-old’s dramatic contribution that saved his team from another derby defeat.

And he’s not the only one to have come back with a bang for a second spell at a Premiership club. Record Sport looks back at some of the others who have found the net on their second debuts.

The Northern irishman left Ibrox initially after liquidation in 2012. The frontman objected to his contract being transferred over to the new company set up by Charles Green, preferring to leave as a free agent.

He headed to Switzerland with Sion before spells with Palermo in Serie B and Norwich City. Lafferty made his return to Scotland with Hearts in 2017, and enjoyed a fruitful spell at Tynecastle. He netted 19 goals in a season and a