I don't need Kasper Schmeichel's Celtic shirt but Hibs loan can help me follow in his footsteps

Josef Bursik already has Kasper Schmeichel’s jersey as a memento from going head-to-head in an FA Cup tie three years ago.

But what the England Under-21 cap really wants is to follow in the Dane’s footsteps by using his loan stint in Scotland to lay the foundations for a successful future. Schmeichel moved north of the border with Falkirk on a temporary deal from Manchester City 17 years ago to gain priceless experience on his way to enjoying a stellar career in the top flight south of the border.

Now 24, Bursik’s switch to Hibs from parent side Club Brugge is his seventh loan. And a year on from suffering an ACL injury, Bursik draws inspiration from Schmeichel’s journey as the pair prepare to lock horns when Celtic visit Easter Road. Bursik, who is hoping Hibs can bounce back from their opening day 3-0 defeat at St Mirren when they host the champions, said: “I’ve played against him before when Stoke City faced Leicester in the FA Cup (in 2021).

“It was my first FA Cup game actually. We lost 4-0 to a good side, they played their full team. So it was a tough game to be fair. I had an alright game actually. I swapped shirts with him – he asked for mine, I’m not sure if he still has it. I’ve certainly got his.

“He’s a really good keeper so it’s always nice to share the pitch with someone like that. It’s obviously good to hear stories of how he played in Scotland as well. There’s not many keepers who have had good careers without going on loan at a young age. Even before I came here, I was at Stoke and I went on loan five, six times.

“And they were great times, great experiences, because you hope to move up a tier or two in every loan. You’re going to experience different things every time you go on loan. As a keeper that’s