Patrick Noubissie is hoping to kickstart his career at Hibs this week.

In a curious arrangement, Noubissie was dispatched on a three-month long loan deal to Livingston having, ironically, been spotted by Collins in a closed-doors match arranged to allow Almondvale manager Mark Proctor to cast an eye over the midfielder while his own priority was having a look at striker Mickael Antoine-Curier.

He told the Edinburgh Evening News "When I first arrived I was not really fit enough. So I've worked hard out at Livingston under Mark Proctor and his management team.

"My time with them has also let me get used to the Scottish game so I think it was a situation I needed."

Noubissie played eight games for Livingston, although a back injury meant the last of them was in the 2-0 defeat by St Johnstone at the beginning of last month.

He said: "The First Division is more direct than the SPL but football is football.

"Mark and his team were good to me, I learned a lot and now I am ready to do well for Hibs."