Thicot: Turns out I was right to stay at Hibs

However, just 48 hours into what was to be a five-day trial with Second Division outfit FC Cartagena, the French defender headed back to Easter Road determined to force his way into boss John Hughes' plans.

His appetite was partially whetted when he stepped from the bench to make his first appearance of the season against Dundee United at Tannadice in January but now the 23-year-old has featured in Hibs' last five games, the final two in his favoured position of central defence.

And, with Sol Bamba hit with a three-match ban, skipper Chris Hogg battling to overcome a back problem and youngster Paul Hanlon similarly struggling to shake off a recurring pelvic injury, Thicot's patience looks set to be rewarded over the course of the final six matches of the season having impressed Hughes immensely in last week's keenly-fought encounter with Celtic, one settled in the Hoops' favour only by a contentious Robbie Keane penalty.

Explaining Thicot's trip to Spain, made during the January transfer window, Hughes said: "At that time, Steven was not in the picture, the situation was crystal clear, I saw Sol, Chris, Ian Murray and young Hanlon in front of him in central defence.

"With the transfer window open Steven got the chance of a trial in Spain and, with the situation as it was, we were not going to stand in his way if he could find himself another club.

"He came back and his application in training was superb. Things have turned round for him, he's found himself in the team and I thought he did exceptionally well against Celtic, now he needs to do it consistently."

Thicot's desire to be part of it all saw him deployed at right back, the former Nantes star happy to play there so long as it gave him the chance to play.

But he said: "I prefer central defence. It's never easy when you are not playing and I went to Spain for a few days in January but it was not what I expected and I didn't want to leave Scotland and find myself in the same situation in another country."

Signed by former Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen after impressing during trial matches against Raith Rovers and Barcelona – in which he played as a defensive midfielder – Thicot admitted he struggled at first to adapt to the Scottish game.

He said: "When I was younger I couldn't understand when a player who was brilliant wasn't so when he moved to another country, I thought football was the same everywhere.

"You have to adapt, it's not the same here as in France and it took me time to understand exactly the way everyone played here. In France, you have more time in defence and midfield but in the last third it is very quick and you have to be sure of your technique. Here there is lots of hard work, people never give up and press up front and in midfield so you don't have the time to be free, that's the biggest difference.

"I like it because I have learned something for myself. I have friends from my time in the academy who are still in France whereas I left and came here when I was only 21. It's been difficult, but I don't give up. I grew up with friends older than me because my brother was six years older. So, since then, I feel I have been stronger than others of my own age.

"You have to be strong enough to leave your country, your family. It's been difficult this season but it's been a great experience for me, not only the football, I've learned to speak English properly and seen something else."

And, after facing Republic of Ireland striker Keane, Thicot declared he had certainly seen "something else," describing the on-loan Tottenham Hotspur star as the best player he'd come up against while adding the codicil that he'd played in midfield when Hibs faced Lionel Messi et al two years ago.

He said: "Keane is very clever, he's not the quickest, not the biggest but he plays between the centre-halves and you can see why he is scoring so many goals."

There was, however, little satisfaction for Thicot in the knowledge that, other than the penalty, he and Bamba kept Keane quiet, the Frenchman claiming he could even have played a part in preventing him converting the spot-kick had he not been booked earlier.

Recalling how he told Aberdeen striker Sone Aluko he'd miss as he prepared to take a penalty at Pittodrie last season – his prediction coming true – Thicot said: "I don't know if Keane heard me say he'd miss but, when he scored, he looked at me.

"If I hadn't been booked earlier I'd have gone over to speak to him, to tell him he'd miss to his face. When someone speaks to you when you are about to take a penalty it puts you off."