John Collins reckons Ryan Porteous can still be a top player.
But the ex Hibs boss says to get there, he must take a leaf out of Virgil van Dijk's book.
Porteous has been a key figure for Hibs under Jack Ross but his blood and thunder style has already earned him three red cards.
One of those came against Rangers at the weekend as he went in hard on Joe Aribo and ultimately cost his team the game.
Collins wasn't overly critical of the 22-year-old, saying he has plenty time to learn and eliminate the mean streak from his game.
But he thinks he needs to spend more time watching the best defenders in the game - such as Liverpool man Van Dijk - if he's going to reach the top.
He said: “As a player, he’s got to learn that that’s got to be eliminated from his game. That doesn’t make him a better player.
“He’s got to watch the best centre-halves in the world and I’m sure that’s what he wants to play like.
“Virgil van Dijk doesn’t slide tackle - ever.
“That’s a feature of Ryan’s game. He likes contact, he likes to be aggressive, but in modern football if you go to ground you’re out of control and if a sliding tackle is slightly mistimed it’s a red card.
“Hibs suffered, because they were in control of the game, one up and looking good, and that one incident may have cost them three points. At that moment in time Hibs were looking comfortable.
“I think for him to become a better player he’s got to eliminate that type of tackle from his game.
“Good players stay on their feet. For the top central defenders, modern football is about staying on your feet and making interceptions and winning the ball.
“It’s not sliding into tackles and smashing people and risking getting bookings and sendings off.
“The best players read the game and stay on their feet."
Collins added: “He’s a good player, I want him to get better and better. Hopefully he takes this on board.
“Nobody likes getting sent off but he’s got to learn from his mistakes. He is young and if he can eliminate that from his game he’ll become a better football player.”
