IN-FORM Sunderland youngster Nectar Triantis could be playing his way to his first senior international call-up, with Australia boss Tony Popovic admitting he's keeping a close eye on the midfielder on loan at Hibs.

Triantis initially joined Sunderland as a defender in the summer of 2023 but has been transformed into a midfielder during two loan stints with the Scottish Premiership club.

He's impressing at Hibs, where he's played a starring role as David Gray's side have climbed up the table and into the top six thanks to a run of just one defeat in 10 games.

Triantis was on the scoresheet and won Man of the Match in the weekend 3-1 win over Motherwell, and Popovic and his Australia coaching staff have been on several scouting missions to Easter Road.

Triantis has previously played for Australia's Under-20s and Under-23s, but could now be in line for his first senior call-up.

Popovic said: ”We have been watching him for months really, since October.

"His team has hit really good form. The last five games they have won four out of five. So that obviously helps as well. We have a few Aussies in that team and they are all contributing to the success they are having at the moment. Triantis is one of those."

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Hibs boss Gray eased the fears of the club's fans who feared Triantis would be recalled to Sunderland this month, saying at the weekend: “No, he'll still be here (until the end of the season), which is great. I don't know that 100 per cent, but I think that is the case, which is positive.

“I think that was a big draw for myself, was trying to get him at the start of the season, because of what we believed he could give us. Now the challenge for him is to keep improving, keep getting better every single day, and it's my job and the rest of the staff's job to make sure we do that.

“He needs to keep working hard, keep improving, and I think when you look at what he's done since he's come into the club, he's getting fitter all the time as well, which is a big thing. It's a different fitness required to play in the middle of the pitch than it is to play as a centre-back, a different level of intensity, especially in this league. It's a real robust league in the middle of the pitch, there's a lot of energy required to play in there, and I think he's improving every week, which is great, and he needs to continue to do that.

“He's still young, you forget how young he is, only a 21-year-old, and he's got that attitude and desire to keep improving, that's the big thing. As a coach, it's brilliant to work with players like that, that are desperate to improve.

“Even though he is a loan player, he's still someone that I think he's shown when he came in, he's very much part of the team and really enjoying his football at the moment, which is great.”

Sunderland are well stocked in midfield after the arrival of Enzo Le Fee and return of Salis Abdul Samed, but will be delighted with how Triantis is developing. He'll return to the Black Cats in the summer and have the chance to impress Regis Le Bris.