Martin Boyle is backing former Hibs team-mate Ryan Porteous to bounce back strongly from his nightmare experience at Euro 2024.

The Scotland centre-back, set to return to Easter Road with Watford for Wednesday night's friendly, was sent off just 44 minutes into an opening night demolition at the hands of Germany. Handed a two-match suspension, it proved the end of Porteous' tournament as Steve Clarke's side were eliminated with a whimper. Boyle, by contrast, helped Australia to two victories in World Cup qualifying earlier this summer.

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The pair have remained close since the defender's move to Vicarage Road in January 2023, and Boyle knows Porteous well enough to predict he has the right mentality to move past the incident, one which saw him heavily criticised on social media. 

"He Facetimed me the other week and we’re still speaking," said Boyle. "It’s completely different summers we’ve had, one was up, one was down. I’ve no doubt that he’ll bounce back from the mistake he made. He’s a strong character, he has been through it before, he’s been through all that and I’ve no doubt he’ll have a fantastic season. It will be nice to see him, whether he’s playing or not. It’s always nice to see old team-mates that you get along very well with."

After being given an extended break post-Euros, Porteous made his first pre-season appearance for the Hornets during Saturday's friendly defeat away to Gillingham, and manager Tom Cleverley expects him to be involved against his boyhood club.

"They are senior figures in the dressing room," said Cleverley of Porteous and the also-returning Moussa Sissoko. "We’re pleased to have those two starting the game and they will continue to get minutes in the tank to be ready for the first match."