Graeme Smith's arrival leaves question mark over Makalambay future

HIBERNIAN have signed former Rangers and Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith in a move which could see Yves Makalambay move down the pecking order or leave Easter Road.

Born in Edinburgh, 26-year-old Smith has signed a contract which will take him to the end of season 2010-11.

Smith was released by Brighton, but will need international clearance through the new Fifa Transfer Matching system before being cleared to play for his new club. With the transfer window now open, that clearance could come in time for him to be in the squad for tomorrow's match against Hearts at Easter Road.

"I am delighted to be joining Hibernian," Smith told the club's official website. "Everything about the club is exciting at the moment, from the gaffer, the training facilities to the results and team on the park. I want to be part of it, and will be working as hard as I can to get into the team on a regular basis."

Manager John Hughes said: "Graeme is an experienced SPL keeper and provides us with another excellent option in goal. I want competition for all positions at this club and Graeme has the right character and skills to play a key part in helping us build success for Hibernian."

Hughes has spoken recently of his desire to increase the number of goalkeepers at Easter Road, not only to provide the competition he mentioned but also to avoid the predicament that Hibs were nearly in last week. With Graham Stack out of the game against Rangers because of injury, Makalambay picked up a hamstring strain during the match which could have forced young reserve keeper Thomas Flynn into action. If Makalambay's strain had been worse and the game against St Johnstone scheduled for midweek had gone ahead, Hughes would have faced an awkward selection.

Stack's back condition should have improved enough for him to be considered for the Edinburgh derby, and Makalambay has now recovered from his own strain. The Belgian lost his starting place to Stack earlier this season, and, with his contract due to expire at the end of this season, he is now free to look elsewhere.

Hibs have so far not offered Makalambay a new deal. Although in public Hughes has shielded him from blame, his continued lack of consistency has been a stark contrast to the improved form shown by the squad as a whole.

The 28-year-old Stack, who is in the first half of a two-year deal which he signed last July, has been more impressive. The Londoner looks the more likely candidate to fight it out with Smith for a starting place in the coming months.

Meanwhile, John Hughes never doubted Hearts would come good this season and insists they are perfectly capable of upsetting his side.

Hughes said: "I've got respect for Hearts. I've always said they're a team whose early form was false, that they would always get in that top six.

"And they're capable of coming to Easter Road and taking three points, that's for sure.

"But our job is to make sure that when they come there, that's not the case, and we go and produce our best form.

"I think I've got the character and the belief in that dressing room to bounce right back from Sunday's defeat and, hopefully, you cannot do it any better than picking up three points in a derby."