New signing Jorge Claros aims to lift Hibs

Star signing Jorge Claros has targeted the “right results” to help lift Hibs from the foot of the SPL table after becoming one of four deadline day arrivals at Easter Road.

Honduran internationalist Claros, known as “The Pitbull”, signed a year-long loan from Motagua in his homeland, while Hibs boss Pat Fenlon continued to drastically reshape his squad by bringing in Gambian Pa Saikou Kujabi on a permanent deal and loan pair Roy O’Donovan and Matt Doherty.

Striker Akpo Sodje and defender Michael Hart left Hibs in a busy day of negotiations yesterday.

Claros, 26, is a friend of Celtic defender and compatriot Emilio Izaguirre and had been on trial at Rangers before Hibs moved to snap up the midfield enforcer.

“Now, I hope to give the right results on the pitch for the team,” said Claros, who has been granted a work permit and could face Kilmarnock on Saturday. “I have now been in Scotland for two weeks and feel I have learned a lot about Scottish football.

“The game is very fast over here and I am looking forward to playing in the SPL. The Scottish fans are very passionate about football.

“Everyone has made me feel welcome during my time here and I am also very thankful to my good friend Emilio Izaguirre, who has made me feel at home in Scotland as I do in Honduras.” Left-back Kujabi, known as “the Gambian Roberto Carlos” has signed for Hibs on an 18-month contract. The 25-year-old started his career in Gambia, then played in Austria with Grazer AK and SV Ried before a spell in Germany’s Bundesliga 2 with FSV Frankfurt. Kujabi, who has ten caps for West African country Gambia, said he is impatient to begin his career in Scotland.

“I can’t wait to start here and show the Hibs fans what I can give back to the club. I love it here – everybody has been very welcoming and it already feels like home. I’m really happy to sign for Hibs. I have to thank the manager for believing in my and making me a Hibs player.”

O’Donovan, the 26-year-old Irish striker, has signed a six-month loan deal. The ex-Dundee United loanee, once a signing of Roy Keane at Sunderland, joins Coventry team mate James McPake on loan at Hibs and will offer alternatives to Leigh Griffiths and Garry O’Connor in attack.

Versatile defender Doherty, 20, arrived on loan from Wolves until the end of the season. The Irishman, who can play at right-back or centre-back, is reunited with Pat Fenlon after the pair worked together at Bohemians. Doherty earned a move to Premier League in July 2010.

“I’m excited about playing for Hibs and working with Pat again,” said Doherty. “He has given me a chance to get some game-time and I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully playing first-team football week in, week out will benefit me in many ways.

“My aim is to do as well as I can for Hibs and then go back and challenge for a first-team place at Wolves next season.”

The late addition of Doherty at the tail end of transfer deadline day brought Hibs’ tally of current loan players to eight. Richie Towell (Celtic), Leigh Griffiths (Wolves), George Francomb (Norwich), Tom Soares (Stoke), Claros, Doherty, McPake and O’Donovan are now all part of Fenlon’s plans as the club prepares to enter the final third of the current campaign.

Fenlon, who had already released Junior Agogo, Victor Palsson, and Matt Thornhill last month yesterday announced that Akpo Sodje and Michael Hart had agreed to leave the club by mutual consent.