Edwin will be a big star at Hibs

Hibs new boy Francis Dickoh today backed under-fire midfielder Edwin de Graaf to claim a dozen goals this season despite the Dutch star missing sitters in his last two home matches.

De Graaf was left holding his head in his hands again as he ballooned the ball over the bar against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday having passed up a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring when John Hughes' side faced Rangers.

Adam Rooney's late penalty equaliser for Caley and Rangers striker Kenny Miller's hat-trick following De Graaf's spurned opportunity a fortnight earlier, haven't endeared the 29-year-old to the Easter Road support, some of whom made their displeasure known as the Dutchman was replaced by Danny Galbraith minutes after his latest miss.

De Graaf may have, at least thus far, failed to recapture the form which persuaded Hughes to make him his first summer signing, but today Dickoh, who knows the former NAC Breda captain well having himself had four years in the Eredivisie in Holland, insisted it won't be long before the fans are singing his team-mate's praises.

The Dutchman had, of course, earlier claimed two as Hibs went down 3-2 to Slovenian outfit NK Maribor as they exited the Europa League, those goals, ironically, coming in front of the Famous Five Stand where he has now passed up two opportunities to double his tally.

Admitting he was disappointed to have heard of the reaction of some supporters as De Graaf left the field in a match which ultimately ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw, Dickoh said: "Edwin was always good for eight, nine or ten goals every season in Holland and I think he can get 12 for Hibs.

"You can see Edwin's quality, coming from midfield into the penalty box and I'm sure once he gets another one he'll be okay. In any case, it is the old saying, you have to be there to miss them."

Boss Hughes similarly backed De Graaf to put these recent disappointments behind him having earlier insisted it was the midfielder's ability to steal into opponents' penalty areas in a style reminiscent of his old Easter Road team-mate Pat McGinlay which was part of the attraction of signing him in the first place. He said: "I know what Edwin is all about, we did a lot of research on him before we made our move. I really feel for him at the moment, with a bit of luck he'd be sitting on five or six goals already. But he's showing a lot of character to keep going back for more.

"It will come for him, everyone can see he's continuing to get in there. We just need to keep encouraging him to do that and it will turn, he will score goals."

De Graaf, however, wasn't the only sinner in front of goal, Derek Riordan also looking on in horror as his attempt from the penalty spot, after he'd been tripped by former Hibs defender David Proctor, crashed back off the upright, leaving Dickoh to contemplate what might have been.

He said: "It was really disappointing to end up drawing the game and it will probably take most of this week for it to sink in. We should not have let the game out of our hands. We had clear-cut chances to get two or three goals in front and you really have to take your opportunities if you want to compete with the best."

Having watched Riordan elude Caley skipper Grant Munro before sliding the ball home for his first goal of the season after just eight minutes, Dickoh admitted to being surprised to see the striker miss from 12 yards, the fourth successive time he has done so from the spot.

He said: "It was a fantastic finish, one-on-one Derek is phenomenally cool, just like every other top striker, so it was something of a surprise so see him hit the penalty off the post. I'm sure he'll put the next one into the top corner but had he and Edwin scored then I am sure we would have won comfortably.

"Instead we gave away a silly goal. Next week we must be sharper at both ends." Although he produced an assured performance alongside Sol Bamba in central defence, Dickoh admitted he feels he needs to sharpen his own game if he is to keep his place ahead of club captain Chris Hogg, who dropped to the bench on this occasion. He said: "I've played some reserve games but there's a huge difference between them and the top flight.

"I still need to get a bit sharper and I felt I wasn't as good in the air as I can be. I need that match fitness so I can cover both at right back and in the centre of defence.

"I was also coming into a new team, I have to get to know the people around me and they need to get used to me, but that is all down to hard work on the training ground and playing competitive matches.

"Other than the result, I have to say my first game in Scotland lived up to my expectations.It was physical, high tempo and overall a good level. I thought we were superior on the day but the fact we did not get all three points means we did not do our job well enough."

Born in Copenhagen to Ghanaian parents, Dickoh admitted he hopes he will be doing his own job well enough in the coming weeks to help add to his tally of 14 appearances for the African nation, the first of which came against Saudia Arabia in 2005.

Dickoh revealed that he missed out on an earlier chance to play at Easter Road. The 27-year-old said: "Ghana are enjoying a great spell at the moment, we are on the rise with a good mixture of young players and experience.

"I've played with most of them and obviously I am hoping to get back into the international squad but, at this point, I just have to concentrate on doing well for Hibs."

Although he played in the African Cup of Nations in 2006, Dickoh missed out on the World Cup in Germany the same year - and a warm-up match against South Korea which was played at Easter Road.

He said: "I know Laryea Kingston who was with Hearts but I haven't had the chance to speak to him yet as he's moved in the opposite direction to me, signing for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland. But I'll catch up with him for a chat about everything soon.