Hibs capture Francis Dickoh and Jonathan Grounds to boost defence

Dickoh has penned a one-year deal after falling out of favour at Celtic's Europa League conquerors, while Grounds has agreed a six-month stay at Easter Road only weeks after signing a new two-year deal at the Riverside.

Dickoh is a Copenhagen-born centre-half with almost 100 games for Utrecht under his belt since his move to the Dutch outfit in 2006 from Nordsjaelland in his native Denmark.

A son of Ghanaian parents, the 27-year-old was a member of Ghana's squad at the 2006 African Cup of Nations but was left out of the World Cup in Germany that year and has managed only 13 caps since his debut against Saudi Arabia five years ago.

However, despite Hughes' side suffering a less then impressive opening to the season, the powerful stopper is determined to help Hibs to success this season.

Dickoh said: "I am really pleased to have signed for Hibernian - a big Scottish club with a great stadium and excellent training facilities.

"As soon as I was taken around the training centre, I knew that I wanted to be part of Hibernian and I think Edinburgh is a beautiful city; a perfect place to live.

"I would like to be able to make an impact straight away in the Hibernian team and help the club to challenge for honours. I am an ambitious player and want to fulfil my career goals here at Hibernian." Hughes, who recruited former Falkirk striker Darryl Duffy on a season-long loan from Bristol Rovers on Monday as a replacement for the departed Anthony Stokes, identified his side's soft centre as an area to be strengthened before the midnight deadline.

And, after watching the player in action in recent weeks, he is certain that Dickoh can be an answer to the problems which have seen his team concede 12 goals in only five competitive matches so far this season.

He said: "Francis is a guy that we have had our eye on for some time. He will bring a physical edge to the side and that is something that I am looking to add right through the team.

"I want to bring winners to this club and I think that is what Francis is. He is an experienced player, he knows how to play his position and his commitment and strength caught my attention. Brian Rice and I were over in Utrecht fairly recently watching him play in a reserve game and came away very impressed.

"He's composed on the ball and his enthusiasm to come to Edinburgh, to try something different and to play football for Hibs said a lot.You come to this club and it is all there for you, you have got a great football club, a great training facility and a great city to enjoy."

Grounds, now 22, made his Middlesbrough debut in the Premier League as a 19-year-old in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in 2008 and has racked up 31 first-team appearances - seven of them in the top-flight - since then. The left-sided player, who can play full-back, centre-half or in midfield, also turned out 16 times for Norwich in two separate loan spells in the Championship.