Hibs: Goalkeeper Jakub Divis finding his feet at Easter Road after slowly adjusting to new way of life

Czech shot-stopper Jakub Divis has registered just one appearance since arriving at Easter Road - in a friendly against Bohemians a month ago - but aims to work as diligently towards proving his first-team credentials as he does when picking his way through the vocabulary and grammar of his new language.

With his loan contract at Hibs running until January 2012, the 6ft 5in custodian tip-toes through broken English to explain to the Evening News his desire to grab a "dream" opportunity in Scottish football.

Rather than return to Slovakian parent club Tatran Presov to complete the remaining months of a permanent deal that expires in 2012, Divis wants to prolong his Scottish sojourn longer than the loan deal he's been given and connect with the passion of the fans behind it.

"In the Czech Republic it's the dream of every football player to play in the UK, because football was born here," said Divis. "There is very technical football here and in Spain, but the UK is the dream for everybody because football here is a lifestyle. I don't mean (my main reason to stay is because] football in Scotland is of a particularly high level, but when you have a good pass, a good cross, or a good action everybody 'lives' the match and applauds. The fans are absolutely great and the atmosphere in the stadium is unbelievable. When I was at the Hibs-Hearts match, oh my god - it's unbelievable. What the fans were doing after the goals, oh my god - it's big."

Divis watched the derby mayhem from the stand as Mark Brown stood between the sticks and Graeme Smith was preferred on the bench in that 2-2 draw with Hearts earlier in the month. Smith is now a confirmed departure at the close of the campaign while Graham Stack is out injured, and Divis' growing confidence in a foreign land has led to the young Czech making a more profound impact in training and earning a place among the subs recently.

He said: "The beginning was very hard for me: new country, new people, new language. In the UK, it's a different lifestyle. I needed a little time when I could live normally, but now I feel better. In the changing room, everyone is very nice, very good guys. Everybody is very friendly to me.

"I think it's a great time for me. I now have an apartment in Morningside - it's a nice place. Now my position in the team is better because I am on the bench. I live through matches and through the team. It is better for me."

Head down and determined to work to fulfil his potential, Divis, by his nature, is unlikely to be distracted by appraisals or rumours generated by the media. In any case, his currently limited grasp of English precludes any temptation to believe his own hype - or become excited by recent reports that he is due a first team start before the end of the season.

"This was written in the newspaper?" he responds. "With my English, I can't read the newspaper. I don't know about this. I'm waiting for my chance and when it comes I will be very happy. Mark Brown has played well, and before that Graham Stack played well. They are good guys and when I get the chance I will be happy and I will do everything I can for us to win."

"Because of my language when I began here - my football language, like ‘man on', ‘keeper' - it was hard but now I think it's better. I'm learning every day. Every day when I speak with the guys in the changing room and in training, I feel my English is getting better. When I speak with the guys, and when we go out in the city centre, it's good for me and my language."

Divis has grown used to acclimatising to new surroundings having left his family home in Lomnice nad Popelkou amid the Czech mountains at the age of 14 to play for Slavia Prague. With a top ice hockey player for a father, a sister specialising in high jump and long jump, and a brother destined for greatness in slalom skiing before a career-ending injury, Divis got his kicks as a kid by watching goalkeepers Petr Cech, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas. His recent role models have emerged, however, from a rather more unlikely background. A young Rudi Skacel was the star at Slavia when Divis joined the crack Czech club, and blazed a trail from Prague to Edinburgh ahead of his goalkeeping compatriot. Meanwhile, Skacel's current Hearts team mate Marian Kello, who has broken into Slovakia's international setup in the last two months, is an example of how Divis can regain recognition for his country after being capped from under-17 to under-21 level.

"Scottish and English football is very important for Czech people," said Divis. "Before me, Rudi Skacel played for Hearts, and I know him from Slavia Prague. He won't remember me because I was very young starting in the first team at Slavia Prague and he was the star and then went to Marseille - but I remember him."

He said of his prospects of a full national cap: "It's very difficult because in Czech Republic there are very good goalkeepers. It's not only Petr Cech, but Jaroslav Drobny in Hamburg. If I get into the national team, I will be very proud.

"It's a high level in your career when you represent your country. I wish and hope that one day I will be in the national team, but now is not my time. I'm not ready. There are better goalkeepers in Czech Republic than me right now.

"In June I will be 25, and you see that today's goalkeepers play until 40, so I hope I have time, that my health will be good, and that there will be open doors to everywhere." In the meantime, Divis has his heart set on Hibs extending his stay in the Capital and his girlfriend is due to move from Prague to Edinburgh this summer after the couple's pet dog has served its obligatory six months in quarantine.

The Czech will similarly be hoping to come out of exile by the time the new season starts and claim a regular place in goals at Easter Road.