LEE JOHNSON believes Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous is being “targeted” and is concerned he could be forced to leave Scottish football.
The 23-year-old centre-back has been involved in regular controversy since breaking through at Easter Road and earlier in the month Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin was handed an eight-game ban by the Scottish Football Association for accusing Porteous of “blatant cheating” to win a penalty against the Dons in September.
The Hibs boss claimed Porteous, who made his Scotland debut against Ukraine in Poland last month, was the victim of a “heavy elbow off the ball” in Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice as he made a case for more protection for his player.
