New Hibs striker determined to prove a Lithuanian can do the business

His destination, however, hasn't been, like so many of his countryman since Vladimir Romanov's "revolution", Tynecastle, but the opposite end of Edinburgh, Easter Road, the home of Hearts' greatest rivals Hibs. The 31-year-old is well aware the novelty of having "bucked the trend" in having opted for Leith rather than Gorgie will undoubtedly heighten the interest in John Hughes' latest signing, but it's a pressure the much-travelled striker insists he's ready to take in his stride.

Trakys is, of course, well aware of Romanov's involvement in Scottish football having played with or against virtually every one of the numerous Eastern Europeans who have headed west to pull on a maroon jersey. He even has his own personal experience of the controversial Russian-born businessman having once turned out for Romanov's FBK Kaunas in his homeland before beginning his footballing odyssey with Torpedo Moscow.

Since then Trakys has become something of a nomad, the deal which will see him pulling on a green and white shirt until the end of this season - once international clearance comes through - making, incredibly, Hibs his 15th club in a career which has also seen him play in Belgium, Iceland, Germany, Azerbzaijan and, latterly, Greece.

Along the way Trakys has also accumulated 14 international caps, a total to which he hopes to add over the coming months, aiming to help Lithuania's bid to pip his latest adopted homeland to a place in the European Championship finals in two years time.

At 6ft 3in Trakys will be aiming to compete with Colin Nish for the right to lead Hibs' frontline, a challenge which, he insisted, he's looking forward to, starting with Saturday's SPL clash with Hamilton following a couple of days back home to attend to personal matters.

Signed following an impressive trial period, Trakys, who took in Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, said: "I'm looking forward to playing for Hibs, a club I know which is a big team in Scotland, one with a big history.

"What can I bring to the team? Goals, because I am a striker and that is what is expected. Sometimes you cannot score, but you can bring good things to the team and what I hope is to bring good things.

"Against Inverness it could have been two or three to zero, we had plenty of chances but when you do not take them then that is what can happen. And that's why we love football, it is so unpredictable."

Having said that, however, Trakys has his fingers firmly crossed he can make the outcome of Hibs' forthcoming matches more predictable as he aims to bring the vast experience built up over the past 15 years to bear on the SPL.

Initially, though, he admits he will have to overcome the curiosity aroused - and perhaps the mis-givings prompted in some sections of the Hibs support - by the sudden arrival of a Lithuanian at Easter Road given the close connections, thanks to Romanov, and his country.

However, he insists that's something he'll happily overcome, revealing he's already shared a few jokes not only with Hughes but Hearts defender Marius Zaliukas having met his countryman in town over the past few days. He said: "I played for Mr Romanov's team but it was 11 or 12 years ago when I was younger and then he sold me to Torpedo Moscow.

"But that was long before he became the owner of Hearts. I am okay with him, in fact, in 2008 when his team Kaunas beat Rangers in a European Championship qualifying match I was playing for Ekranas and we beat them in the A Lyga.

"I've played with or against most of the Lithuanian guys who have been at Hearts but when you are on the pitch you forget everything and give your best for your own club.

"Yes, it is perhaps a bit strange for a player from Lithuania to come to Hibs rather than Hearts - it will be interesting but I don't think it brings any greater pressure on me because I will only be concerned with doing my very best here and if I can bring good things to this club then, I am sure, everything will be okay and I will change the minds of anyone who is wondering about me."

Trakys revealed there was, in fact, a chance of him once joining Hearts, but nothing more than a "maybe, maybe," a move which never transpired as he moved from club to club before returning to Lithuania where, in 2009, he not only became the top scorer with 20 goals but the A Lyga's leading player before, as he admits, he made a poor decision in opting to join Greek outfit Panserraikos.

He said: "I always try to give of my best but I was told after only a few games there was no chance for me to play. At my age it was no good for me to just do nothing other than training so the contract was broken. There was interest back in Lithuania and also in Cyprus but it was not difficult for me to come to Hibs when I heard of their interest.

"It's a club with a history of 135 years, a fantastic stadium, a training centre which is amazing and a squad of good players and a very good manager.

"Now my target is to get into the best condition possible to play as much as possible and bring my best to the team. Every week we must strive to get all three points." While Saturday's clash with Inverness gave Trakys his first taste, at least up-close of the SPL, he admitted Romanov's connection with Hearts had heightened knowledge of the Scottish game within his homeland. He said: "Hearts games are normally on television and we see the derbies."

Apart from Zaliukas he also took advantage of the recent clash between Scotland and Lithuania in Kaunas to catch up with ex-Hearts hitman Andrius Velicka, another former team-mate, revealing he hopes his own move to these shores will help re-establish his own international credentials.

And he also disclosed he's already hoping he can convince Hughes to extend a contract on which the ink is hardly dry. He said: "The manager is a different character to my coach in Greece, a man who did not speak to you. Here the manager is hard on you in training but is good to you which I like.

"I think signing until the end of the season is good for me and the club. I can show what I can do and if it is okay then a contract can always be renewed.

"I will be doing my best every day because I was told as a young player that every day at a football club you are on trial."