Ryan Porteous is a future Scotland captain and can play anywhere he wants.
That’s according to the man who guided him through his first season in senior football. Joe Mbu was the man mountain on which Edinburgh City’s defence was built when they became the first club to win promotion to the SPFL via the pyramid playoffs in 2016.
To bolster their backline in the league ranks, then-manager Gary Jardine drafted in a 17-year-old Porteous on loan from Hibs to learn his craft alongside the experienced Mbu. Six years later, he was starring for his country as they won promotion to the top tier of the Nations League and secured a Euro 2024 playoff spot - all on his debut.
Porteous’ rise comes as no surprise to Mbu, who sees a future Scotland captain there. “I’ve been saying it for a while,” Mbu told Record Sport. “I’ve got some really close mates who are Hibs fans and long before now, I’ve been telling them that he’s the future of Scottish football and a possible Scotland captain in years to come.
“I don’t think there’s much that can stop him getting to the highest level. The calm head needs to come in at times and not get so wound up. You can be a pantomime villain in football sometimes but when he just plays his game and keeps his head, then the world is his oyster. He can play where he wants.”
The praise Porteous has received this week has come on the back of a fair chunk of stick following some rash tackles and getting involved in incidents off the ball, notably against Rangers. Mbu was no stranger to the dark arts but insisted that to take the aggression out of Porteous’ game would be detrimental to team and player.
“I’m a big fan of Ryan and I’ve never denied that but there’s a line that can be blurred sometimes,” he said. “I wasn’t a nice guy when I played football. Everyone who played against me knows that I would whisper stuff in their ears and was exactly the same. But there’s an element when you start putting yourself in danger that he might get sent off or get booked or something, and that can cost him a chance in a big game. That’s when you have to set a line in regard to how far things will go. There’s been times when he’s been close but I honestly think you can’t take aggression out of his game.
“From a young laddie, he was flying into tackles and I’m watching them thinking if that’s me, I’m getting booked. Refs would say: ‘Joe, look at the size of you, you can't go in like that’ and I’m like: ‘What?!’
“He was a bit quiet when he first came to us. I can't remember who it was, but the striker up front was trying to pick on Ryan and his response was brilliant: ‘I’m a 17-year-old laddie - is that all you’ve got? Bring it!’
“The boy’s face; he was raging! I told him: ’He’s just shredded you. That 17-year-old laddie has absolutely shredded you and told you to bring it.’ After I just thought, I love this guy! He told him straight, walked the walk and the boy could not deal with it. He was all over him like a rash and I knew he had the chance to conquer everything.
"For me, he’ll be the next big thing to come out of Scotland and everyone recognised that with his performance the other night. When you look at the guys who have been playing in front of him for Scotland, he’s not far away. There’s some I think he could easily play ahead of.
“Grant Hanley’s played at the highest level and Porto’s not far away from him. He’s got more pace about him and his recovery tackles are slightly better. He could play at any level, but it depends on who’s going to give him the opportunity.”
We might find out sooner rather than later. Porteous’ Hibs contract is up at the end of the season and after seeing former teammate Josh Doig follow in the flourishing Aaron Hickey’s footsteps, would an Italian job suit Porteous?
“It might absolutely complete him,” says Mbu. “Making a move to Serie A as a centre half? He’d be one of the most coveted centre backs going. That's what the Italians based themselves on, being strong defensively and organised. After that, he could play where he wants.
“The Hickey move, I didn’t see coming but he’s come back and looked magnificent. These guys are taking a chance to go to a different league, playing against World Cup winners and holding their own.
“Is that the path? Is that what kids need to be thinning now, that they should try their hand abroad and see how their career progresses?
“If it's down to money, he might end up in the Premiership. But for his development and how you’ve seen how the likes of Hickey have equipped themselves, he could easily play in that league. He’d be so coveted it would be ridiculous.”
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