Games are coming thick and fast, which has severely reduced the players’ time on the training pitch.
The physical and mental demands of playing a game every three or four days is incredibly high, but it’s a challenge the young defender is relishing.
“It is demanding but we want to be playing games and our league form is not as good as we want it to be.
“Having these games is a chance to bounce back and climb the table and tomorrow is no different.”
Before the Premier Sports Cup Final against Celtic on Sunday 19 December, Hibs have three games against Livingston (a), St Mirren (a), and Dundee (h). Porteous believes these games are a perfect opportunity to build momentum going into the match at Hampden Park.
“Everyone wants to play in the cup final, everyone wants to fight for a starting space. It (the run of fixtures) is a chance to impress the gaffer and impress teammates.
“If we climb the league and are doing well in the league, then it gives everyone a chance to go and play in that cup final and create a bit of history.”
Porteous has also shared his thoughts as to why Hibs’ league form has not been great in recent weeks, highlighting a lack of ruthlessness in both boxes.
“Some of the results are out of your control but we need to be better.
“I think the performances have been good enough, but good teams find a way to win a game and if we want to be third or fourth to get the European places every year then we need to find a way to win a game and as I say, tomorrow is not any different.
“It has been a long time since we have kept a clean sheet and ultimately that is what the defence gets paid for. We need to give ourselves a good foundation to go and win the game.
“If Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle do not score, then someone else will need to step up. We need a bit of ruthlessness in both boxes and hopefully, that changes tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s match against Livingston is very important not only in terms of climbing the league table but also for momentum.
“It is massive, they are a good team, they play a specific way, and they will be fighting for every point that they get. We need to go in with the same hunger and desire to win the game and climb the table again.
“They can play good football as well, you have seen that on the AstroTurf pitch. They move it well, they will be running about and getting after us, so we need to show that same hunger and that same fight to go and match that first and foremost to earn our right to play and then take it from there.”
Despite the poor form in recent weeks, Porteous believes that the results will soon come for Hibs.
“We cannot keep performing well and dropping points, we need be winning games, it does not matter about the performance at the end of the day.
“Three points are what we need right now, a clean sheet is what we need right now, and hopefully, that comes tomorrow.”
