Stephens hopes Hibs move will aid his Welsh hopes

NEW Hibernian defender David Stephens hopes his move to the Scottish Premier League can help him break into Wales' European Championship qualifying plans.

The quick 18-year-old centre-half has become John Hughes' second signing of the summer after leaving Norwich City to pen a three-year deal at Easter Road.

Stephens, a commanding 6ft 4in tall, has been earmarked as one for the future, but is not short of immediate ambition.

As well as seeking to break into Hughes' first-team plans ahead of their Europa League bow later this month, Stephens has his sights set on progressing from the Wales Under-19 set-up.

The Welsh are in England's Euro 2012 qualifying group and the youngster believes playing in Scotland's top-flight can aid his chances of reaching the senior international team under John Toshack. The Hertfordshire-born player, who made one top-team appearance at Norwich in October 2009 before ending last season on loan at Lincoln City, said: "I definitely think playing in the SPL can enhance my chances of playing for Wales at Under-21 and senior level.

"The manager of the 21s, Brian Flynn, told me that to get in his squad and the seniors you need to be playing regular first-team football.

"Hopefully if I do well here it will boost my chances. I'm going to give it my all to be part of the first-team squad at Hibs, rather than the Under-19s.

"The gaffer said I've got the potential to be a first-team player every week and that's what I'm going to try and do."

Stephens spent four years at Norwich, where he came through the youth ranks, and then had a spell under former Celtic striker Chris Sutton at Lincoln. However, he felt he had little chance of breaking into Paul Lambert's Norwich first team after they earned promotion to the Championship. He added: "I had one-year left on my Norwich contract and I wasn't going to play there. I got a call from Hibs, came to look at the facilities and then my heart was set on it. I've got pace, I'm an athlete. I like to get it down and play."

After a couple of closed-doors games this week, Hibs will step up their preparations for the new season when they travel to East End Park on Saturday to face Dunfermline in a friendly.