Czech goalkeeper insists he enjoyed Hibs debut - despite being virtual spectator

Asked to assess the performance of his new goalkeeper Jakub Divis following his debut against Bohemians, Hibs boss Colin Calderwood replied: "I thought he had three or four terrific saves and five or six terrific punches."

Calderwood's answer was made very much tongue-in-cheek, the 24-year-old's first chance to impress following his arrival in Edinburgh during the January transfer window almost a non-event as far as the Czech star was concerned.

Yes, he was beaten, Craig Fagan's spot-kick the only shot on target the Dublin-based outfit managed throughout the entire 90 minutes and presenting Divis with a rare chance to get his gloves on the ball as he picked it out of the net.

But, while admitting he wished Calderwood's observations had, in fact, been a true reflection of Monday night's proceedings, Divis insisted that despite his lack of involvement, he'd thoroughly enjoyed his first match as a Hibs player.

Signed from Slovakian side Tatran Presov on a year-long loan deal, the 6ft 5in stopper said: "Of course, I'd have liked a few saves to make to impress the manager and everyone else. Instead, I had nothing to do other than try to save their penalty which is not always possible.

"However, it was a good experience for me, my first game at Easter Road and so I was happy to have played. These games can also be difficult for a goalkeeper because your concentration has to be 100 per cent from the start to the finish.

"There might only be one shot from the opposition but, if you have lost your focus, then you can also lose a goal. It's important for a goalkeeper to talk and organise the backline and this game helped me learn about the guys in front of me.

"It would have been nice to end the game with zero goals against me but there was only one shot on my net and it was a penalty. That's football."

Calderwood raised a few eyebrows when he brought former Czech Under-21 star Divis to Edinburgh despite already having three other goalkeepers, Graham Stack, Mark Brown and Graeme Smith in place, the new arrival forced to wait for his chance as the Hibs boss gave his rivals their opportunity to stake their claim for the gloves.

Divis, who impressed during a trial period before opting for Hibs ahead of English Championship side Doncaster Rovers, insisted, however, the realisation he'd most probably be fourth in the pecking order didn't scare him off.

In his first interview since moving to Scotland, Divis told the Evening News: "The Slovakian League is a small league and I needed to make a step up. My agent called me and said there was a chance to go on trial at both Hibs and Doncaster, I spent three days with each club and I am very happy I am staying here.

"This is a very big chance for me. There are a lot of goalkeepers here but we all work well together and we have a very good coach in Scott Thomson, He's helped me a lot and I feel my form is getting better.

"You need good competition, it pushes you to produce your very best every day in training. There can only be one goalkeeper on the pitch, though, Everyone wants to be the No.?1 but only one can be. It's up to me to work hard every day, show the manager I am a good goalkeeper and then we will see what will be."

Divis is well aware that both Stack and Smith are out of contract at the end of this season with Calderwood yet to divulge whether one or other, or both, will be leaving or staying.

But he refused to discuss what impact that might have on him personally, insisting: "That's the future, we'll see what happens in the summer. I think for me this half year is to learn good English, to get to know the team and players and then we will see next season."

Given his nationality, Divis knows much will be expected of him, at least in the eyes of the Hibs supporters bearing in mind countryman Petr Cech's performances for Chelsea and, closer to home, those of Tomas Cerny at Hamilton while Hearts Marian Kello and Dusan Pernis of Dundee United hail from near-neighbours Slovakia.

The two countries were, of course, one until 1993 following the "Velvet Revolution" four years earlier but, Divis agreed, they remain highly similar nations. He said: "We are now two different countries but we have the same language, the same mentality. I think our goalkeepers have a very good name in the world with Petr Cech definitely the best."

Divis, however, revealed he could very well be making a name for himself in football as a striker rather than goalkeeper. He said: "Like every young boy I wanted to be a centre forward, scoring goals. Because of my height I scored a lot with my head but one day when I was 12 we didn't have a goalkeeper for one match and the coach said I should go in goal as I was so tall. I played well that day and I've been in the nets ever since."

Revealing he'd been to Scotland just once before signing for Hibs - he faced our Under-21 side at Falkirk, losing 1-0 to a Steven Naismith goal almost four years ago - Divis has settled well into life in Edinburgh, likening it very much to Prague in his homeland.

And his English, self-taught up to this point, is rapidly improving amid the dressing-room banter at Hibs East Mains Training Centre. He said: "I speak good German because where I come from in the Czech Republic, Tornov, is near Germany.

"But English is spoken all over the world and I've learned by watching films, from songs and video clips. It's coming along but you Scots talk far too fast."I keep pleading with my team-mates to slow down so I can understand.

"They do but only for three seconds and then they are off again."