Martin Boyle has lifted the lid on the stormy meeting held at the Hibs training ground in the aftermath of Saturday's desperate defeat by St Mirren at Easter Road.

Returning from Qatar following Australia's exit at the quarter-final stage of the Asian Cup, the 30-year-old was unable to watch the game live due to being in transit but along with compatriot Lewis Miller, rejoined his club colleagues at East Mains this week with a view to playing a part in Wednesday night's cinch Premiership meeting with Celtic. 

Given the meekness of the performance against the Buddies, particularly in the first half, the debrief was understandably fiery - with Boyle virtually a spectator as he hinted a few home truths were uttered. 

Asked how the meeting had played out, he replied:  “A lot like you imagine! It wasn’t pretty. I couldn’t really have much of a say because I didn’t participate in the game - I was kind of just a spectator.

“Tempers flared a little bit but that’s good; you have to have those conversations and get them out, and as soon as you step out of this building it is time to go again. I’ve been in a lot of meetings like that down the years and you just have to take it on the chin.

“You watch the video and you listen and there’s a few comments at the end, it’s an open floor. Sometimes it can go great, sometimes it can turn, but that’s football. We have to turn the corner. We have to go out and prepare for the game. You have to nullify the mistakes we made. The performance was unacceptable, those who played pretty much took that on the chin and they know. [The Celtic game] is another opportunity to rectify it."

Miller's role in South Korea's victory was a hot topic on social media, with the young full-back targeted for conceding the injury-time penalty that allowed Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan to take the tie to extra time, and the free kick from which Son Heung-min scored the winner. Some of the comments were particularly vicious, and Boyle revealed he had sought to help the 23-year-old switch off from the criticism. 

"I tried to help as much as possible. It wasn't great after the game, the messages came rolling in. Social media can be horrible at times but people are entitled to their own opinion. 

"Sometimes it can go a bit heavy. It’s hard. I just gave him a bit of encouragement to stay off it for a bit and keep his head down, maybe phone the family and get some support from other people and the manager here at Hibs.

"It was a mistake that wasn't intended; passions are flying in the game and he thought he could win the challenge. It didn't work out but there will be plenty more opportunities for him," Boyle said.

"This is probably the best thing for him, getting into a game like this. He's normally performed really well against Celtic - hopefully he can do that again. We’ve all given him a big cuddle and he’s raring to go. It’s at the back of his mind at the moment and he can’t wait to get the Hibs shirt back on."

Boyle is also hopeful of getting a run in his favoured wide position after returning from international duty with Australia in the Asian Cup. 

The 30-year-old was deployed as a centre-forward before his departure for Qatar, where he helped the Socceroos reach the quarter-finals of the competition, but a number of attacking signings in the January transfer window could see the winger played in his preferred position. 

Myziane Maolida, Eliezer Mayenda, and Emiliano Marcondes have all arrived to bolster Nick Montgomery's options in the final third, and join Jair Tavares and Élie Youan as wide options. But now back in Scotland and eager to get going again for club after six weeks with his country, Boyle has designs on once again rampaging down the right flank and terrorising opposition full-backs.

“Hopefully I will be back out in my normal wide position," he said, when asked if there had been any conversations about his role in the team.  

“I like to stand players up, I like to be creative and make runs in behind. With the signings we have made, hopefully we can get Dylan Vente back up top and back in form and scoring goals like we know he is capable of doing.

“Ideally us wide players can give him chances and get close to him and not leave him on his own. We need to start doing that, and do it quickly.”