Sodje vows to get goals and lift Hibs

NEW boy Akpo Sodje reckons he can hit the goals which help Hibs force their way back up the SPL table and out of the relegation zone.

Former Charlton Athletic target man Sodje, who has agreed an 18-month contract, was brought in just hours before the transfer deadline last night to strengthen Hibs' firepower.

The Easter Road side have failed to score a goal this year, despite having played some 630 minutes of football, and Hibs boss Colin Calderwood believes that the 6ft 2ins player can bring something different to his side's attacking armoury.

Sodje, younger brother of Nigerian internationalists Sam and Efe, can't wait to get started and said: "I'm really pleased to have agreed the move to Hibs and I am excited about the challenge ahead.

"Just looking around the city and the stadium, you immediately understand what a big club Hibernian is in Scottish football.

"I have been impressed with what the manager has said and about his plans and I want to score goals to help Hibs climb up the table."

Calderwood revealed that he has been tracking the player for some time and said: "I'm pleased to be able to bring Sodje to the club, he has a wealth of experience and good physicality. He's played in the English Championship before and will bring something different to our attacking armoury.

"I have been following his progress since he was at Port Vale and scored 14 goals in one season."

Calderwood also completed a deal for goalkeeper Jakub Divis, taking his signings to six in the last few weeks.

Czech star Divis was the first to arrive on the final day of the January window before Sodje celebrated his 30th birthday by switching from Charlton Athletic a few hours later, the pair joining earlier signings Matt Thornhill, Martin Scott, Richie Towell and Victor Palsson at Easter Road.

As revealed by the Evening News, 24-year-old Divis spent the early part of last week on trial in Edinburgh, playing in a closed doors match against Dunfermline alongside 19-year-old former Liverpool midfielder Palsson.

And although he was also wanted by English Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers, he revealed signing for Hibs had been his first choice.

The 6ft 5in stopper said: "After training and playing with the squad, I knew I wanted to be a part of Hibernian and now I want to push hard for a first team place."

The day also saw a number of departures with Chris Hogg, who started the season as club captain, being released only to join SPL rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the season while Merouane Zemmama's move to Middlesbrough finally went through, the little Moroccan reunited with former manager Tony Mowbray in a three-and-a-half year deal.

And Dutchman Edwin de Graaf returned to his homeland to join Excelsior on loan having failed to live find success in green and white.