Lee Johnson says Hibs defender Ryan Porteous is being actively targeted and it could force him out of Edinburgh.
There's conversations ongoing over extending the Scotland international's contract beyond the end of this season, but Johnson has been left concerned amid a recent run of incidents, including Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin calling him a 'cheat.' Speaking in context of VAR being introduced to the Scottish Premiership, the Hibs boss says his centre-back becoming a target could make his mind up on whether he he stays or goes from Easter Road.
He said: "The-off-the-ball stuff should get caught but it doesn't get caught enough at this level, at the time or retrospectively. Ryan Porteous had a big one where he received a really heavy elbow off the ball (against Dundee United on Tuesday) It didn't get picked up, it didn't get spoken about and I think Ryan Porteous needs a lot more protection than he is getting at the moment.
