I CAN WEAR THE ARMBAND AND STILL BE..PRANKIE BOYLE

HIBS prankster Martin Boyle knows he has a reputation for nonsense off the pitch.

- ANDY NEWPORT

But the stand-in Leith skipper reckons Sunday’s rescue mission against Rangers proves he’s deadly serious about his new leadership role on it.

With club captain Joe Newell out injured, Boyle has taken over the armband for the Easter Road outfit’s last two games.

For some it’s a surprise choice given Boyle’s well-known love of capers and a carry-on with his team-mates.

Boss David Gray even admitted that if it had been suggested Boyle would end up leading the team out one day, back when he sat next to him in the Hibs dressing room, he’d have laughed in your face.

But Philippe Clement’s men didn’t find it funny as Boyle put on a true captain’s performance to help his team snatch a draw in the 3-3 thriller.

It was the Aussie international’s double that saw the capital club recover from two goals down, with Rocky Bushiri adding a third after Hamza Igamane wrapped up a Rangers hat-trick.

Asked if he’d had to curb his mischievous side, Boyle grinned as he said: “I’m just the same guy as I normally am.

“A lot of people don’t take me seriously around the place but, look, I’ve never changed who I am.

“When I cross that white line, I can flick a switch. A lot of people will probably find that hard to believe but I do my talking on the pitch. I try to lead by example when I’m out there.

“I’m working hard in training, as I do every season. Hopefully I can lead by example that way. There’s loads of leaders in our changing room.