International Round-Up: Hibees Shine With Socceroos

Lewis Miller & Martin Boyle

It was a week to remember for Hibs full-back Lewis Miller, who won his first Australia caps!

The powerful right-back was called up to Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad for the first time earlier this month and was involved in both Australia’s friendlies over the last fortnight.

Miller – who has been capped by Australia at U23 level before – picked his moment to make his first senior international appearance, coming on as a second-half substitute against England at Wembley Stadium. Speaking to socceroos.com, Miller admitted it was a surreal experience making his debut in front of 70,000 people.

“(It was a) very special day, very special occasion and one of the world’s biggest stages in football. So it’s just a coincidence that opportunities come at a time like this, but I’m grateful to Graham Arnold for giving me the opportunity,” Miller said.

“When the number goes up, you just soak it all in, you look across the field, you look around the stadium and see 70,000 people here – which is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Fellow Hibs teammate Martin Boyle also featured in the international friendly against England, playing 83 minutes as the Australians fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

The Socceroos then played New Zealand on Tuesday afternoon at the Brentford Community Stadium with both Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller starting the match.

Both Hibees played their part in a 2-0 victory, with Boyle providing an assist for the second goal – setting up former Hibee Jackson Irvine who nodded home from a corner.

Rocky Bushiri

Central defender, Rocky Bushiri was part of the DR Congo squad that played New Zealand and Angola over the international window.

Rocky was an unused substitute against New Zealand (with the match finishing 1-1), and was also named on the bench during DR Congo’s 0-0 draw with Angola in Portugal.

Dylan Levitt

Hibs midfielder Dylan Levitt returned to the Wales squad after missing Rob Page’s last camp due to injury.

Levitt was an unused substitute in a 4-0 win over Gibraltar in an international friendly. Levitt was also on the bench four days later, when Wales recorded a memorable 2-1 victory over Croatia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

That result gave Wales’ qualification hopes a massive boost – lifting them up to second in Group D, with two games remaining.

Rudi Molotnikov

17-year-old Rudi Molotnikov was involved in both Scotland U19s international friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Portugal.

The attacking midfielder came on for the final 20 minutes against the Republic of Ireland, with the young Scots falling to a 2-0 defeat at the Pinatar Football Arena in Spain.

Molotnikov also featured against Portugal U19s at the same venue, coming on in the second half in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Joseph McGrath

The final Hibee on international duty is Joseph McGrath. McGrath has been included in Brian McLaughlin’s squad Scotland Under-17 squad who begin their UEFA Under-17 EURO 2024 Qualifying campaign in Turkey.

The young Scots will play Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey in the space of seven days in Manavgat, starting this Saturday (21 October).