Man of 14 clubs Trakys takes the long way round to Hibs

Valdas Trakys has become the latest Lithuanian to land in Edinburgh but in a novel departure from the norm is clocking on for work at Easter Road.

• Lithuanian international striker Valdas Trakys has been on John Hughes' radar for a while, and the former FBK Kaunas player has arrived on a 12-month loan deal from Panserraikos. Picture: Greg Macvean

Hibernian's much travelled new striker has spoken about the circuitous route which has brought him to Leith and the possibility that he might have made the more well-trodden journey to Hearts from his home country.

He once played for the team owned by Vladimir Romanov, FBK Kaunas. But he was sold on from Romanov's team to Russian club Torpedo Moscow ten years ago at the beginning of an odyssey that has seen him rack up a remarkable 14 clubs. He has made the same number of international appearances although the striker has not featured in recent squads.

He is aiming to use Hibs as a platform on which to remind Lithuania manager Raimondas Zatautas of his talents. Trakys endured a frustrating time in Greece, his last stop-off. He joined Panserraikos earlier this year but was frozen-out of the first-team plans and arrived at Hibs on trial last week.

Hibs manager John Hughes made the decision to sign him on a 12 month contract prior to learning the news that Darryl Duffy will miss as many as eight weeks of the season after breaking his metatarsal in training. Hughes believes Trakys will suit Hibs, although he conceded he is a different type of player to Duffy.

"Valdas is a player who has been on our radar for a while now and, over the past week, we have been able to run the rule over his credentials and he certainly fits the bill," he said.

"He has lot of experience and a good physical presence - he will give us a different option up front and we're pleased to be able to bring him into the club.

"Even since the window closed, we have been working hard to try and strengthen the team and we believe Valdas will prove to be a very useful acquisition."

Trakys is set to make his debut this weekend as Hibs seek to claim a first home win of the season against Hamilton Accies. The striker is charged with helping Hibs convert the sort of chances which went a-begging against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday, in the 1-1 draw. Trakys was at the game and believed the score should have been 3-0 in Hibs' favour. "Goals," he replied, when asked what he can bring to the team. The 31 year-old has also been courted by Hearts in the past, he revealed. But this interest came to nothing and he is now seeking to give Hibs fans a reason to fly the Lithuania flag while at the same time resurrecting his own international ambitions. Trakys was at the recent match between Lithuania and Scotland in Kaunas and is desperate to be involved by the time the countries meet again next year."It's always a big pleasure to play for my country but I did not have the games in Greece and the manager did not call me," he said. "Now, I believe I can get back into the squad and hopefully the team. In my last season in Lithuania with Ekranas I was top scorer in the league and was the best player in the league but when you don't play for your club it's not so easy to play for your country."

"I met up with Marius Zaliukas last Sunday and asked him about Hibs and Hearts and Edinburgh, but we are friends outside the pitch anyway. He said Hibs was a perfect club for me. The training centre is amazing and I have been very impressed with the stadium. I had two or three other offers but I was only thinking about Hibs and it does not trouble me at all there is this link between Lithuania and Hearts."

It will not concern the Hibs fans either should he show the kind of form which made him top goalscorer in his own country two years ago.