Ryan Porteous feared he’d never get back in the Hibs team after his January transfer saga - mainly because he reckons Darren McGregor had turned into Franco Baresi.
But now he’s re-established himself at the heart of the Hibees rearguard Porteous is determined to prove his own international class ahead of the summer’s Euros.
And he reckons a Scottish Cup winners’ medal - on the back of securing European football next season -can only help him in his quest.
The 22-year-old defender was benched for five games along with Kevin Nisbet after both were the subject of big-money bids from England late on in the January transfer window.
Millwall failed with an offer worth over £1million for Porteous as the Easter Road club dug their heels in.
And while owner Ron Gordon admits one of the club’s top assets could be sold this summer Porteous is focused on what could be a massive few weeks before then.
Reflecting on his spell on the sidelines Porteous said: “It was the manager’s decision, that close to deadline day when bids were coming in.
“I wasn’t focused on that at all, my head was solely focused on the Dundee United game we had.
“The manager asked me where my head was at and I told him it was on the game.
“He made the decision and it was the right one because Daz (McGregor) came in and strolled it, scored, we kept a clean sheet and the boys won.
“So he helped us massively by making those big calls.
“I wasn’t confident I’d get back in. Daz was playing like Baresi at that point!
“I just needed to keep training well and hope that I could sneak my way back in.
“I’ve managed to do that and now we are playing well it’s all about that final four or five weeks and giving it a big push.
“It’s been a great season. My goal was to play consistently for 30-35 games.
“And now I have hit that mark I just want to keep performing at a high level.
“There are three massive league games and hopefully three big cup games left.”
Hibs face a stern test this evening against a Motherwell side they have failed to put a goal past never mind beat in two previous meetings in Leith this season.
But should they do so then it would be a third semi final in just six months - and Porteous says the chance to right the wrongs of the previous two which ended in defeat to Hearts and St Johnstone.
It would also raise his profile ahead of Steve Clarke naming his Scotland squad for the Euros and, of course, the summer transfer window.
He said: “A Scottish Cup winners’ medal can only help. I just want to perform consistently, stay fit and see what happens with Scotland and other things.
“I’m focused on the football side of things just now and I want to perform at a really high level for the next, hopefully, six games.
“I want something tangible to show for it. The boys have put a brilliant effort in this season to put ourselves in these positions and it would be disappointing to walk away without a cup.
“We have belief we can do it. It’s now about actually doing it rather than talking about it.
“Motherwell are a good team and if they turn up and play well it’s going to be difficult. But we know if we work as hard as them if not harder and reach our levels it will see us through.
“It’s a massive opportunity to try and right our wrongs.”
Hibs secured European football with a win over Livingston on Wednesday and one more victory from their remaining three Premiership fixtures would all but guarantee third spot too.
Yet there was little sign of a celebration at Easter Road at full-time against Livi.
Porteous insists that will change if they can cement their first third spot finish in 16 years - as well as a Scottish Cup triumph.
He said: “Our goal has always been to finish third. That is what we want and there will be celebrations when that happens because that would be a massive achievement.
“The club has not done that since the 2004/05 season so we will celebrate that, if it were to happen. But, we all know that there is a lot of football still to be played.
“Aberdeen were brilliant against Celtic and fortunately for us, Griff popped up with an important goal.
“We knew what it meant on Wednesday but we didn’t make a big deal of it after the game or in the dressing room because that is not what this group is all about.
“Third place is the one everyone has got their eye on.”
Meanwhile, Jack Ross knows clinching European football can help him strengthen his Hibs squad in the summer.
But he’s equally aware the club’s raised profile could see him lose some of the stars who got them there in the first place.
Ross is looking to add depth to his squad in the summer after securing fourth spot and with a third place finish in sight.
A Scottish Cup win would qualify the Easter Road club for the Europa League and guarantee an extended run on the continent.
And Ross said: “The downside to doing well is you know players will attract attention.
“But undoubtedly once we look to recruit the fact we have European football guaranteed – and hopefully a longer spell in Europe – and being in the latter stages of cup competitions and done well in the league should encourage players to come here.
“There are a lot of good things about the club in terms of what it offers and the fact it’s in a beautiful city.
“That helps but we need to have success on the park as well and certainly this season will help me over the coming weeks and months in terms of bringing players to the club.”
A priority area for Hibs is in goal with Ofir Marciano set to depart at the end of the season.
Matt Macey will again be between the sticks for the Scottish Cup quarter final with Motherwell this evening and Ross says talks with the 6ft 7in Englishman over extending his deal beyond the summer are progressing positively.
Ross said: “Matt has performed well in the cup games but he’s not playing these games to be judged.
“My opinion of him is one I already have because of how he’s performed and trained and his abilities as a goalkeeper.
“Graeme Mathie has spoken to his representatives and we’re quite confident that, one way or another, we’ll be able to bring discussions to a conclusion soon, which will help us move forward.
“Thus far, everything has been positive and hopefully that will continue to be the case.”
