A wry smile across the face of defender Liam Fontaine suggests that James Keatings' failure to find the net in any of last season's Edinburgh derbies has been brought up in the Hibernian dressing room, writes Darren Johnstone.

"I came up against him but you didn't hear much about him did you?" replies Fontaine when asked if he recalls facing Keatings last term.

But after seeing Keatings open his account on his full debut with a stunning strike in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Raith Rovers, Fontaine acknowledges that the former Hearts player's prowess in the vicinity of the box has defenders like him on high alert.

Keatings, who missed the start of the campaign with a hamstring injury, netted 11 goals to help bitter city rivals Hearts clinch the Championship title last term and Fontaine now envisages the 23-year-old tormenting the opposition as a Hibs player.

"I knew that when he got on the pitch that he was going to score us goals," said Fontaine.

"It was his first start for us on Saturday you could see the quality he's got to get the ball out of his feet and find the net with a strike from outside the box - he's a great talent.

"In training he is so sharp, he's got the quick ability to get a shot away sharp.

"He's a finisher, he can go both ways which is a nightmare for opposing players. You want to show players on to their weaker foot but he's got the ability to shoot with either foot, and it was a nice graceful finish into the top corner.

"It's his first full game back and he's only going to get sharper on the pitch."

Jason Cummings, who added the second on Saturday, and Dom Malonga grabbed 37 goals between them last season and Fontaine reckons head coach Alan Stubbs has assembled a potent strike force.

He added: "Jason and Dom scored a lot last season and we probably could have scored more. With Keatings here too, it's going to add more goals to us. Hopefully we can be solid and that will bode well for us."

After being disappointed he did not hit the target with an early chance against Raith, Keatings produced a clinical strike in the 23rd minute.

The former Celtic trainee had one thing on his mind when he accepted Liam Henderson's pass in a central position just outside the box.

And in the blink of an eye, the 23-year-old moved the ball onto his left foot and swept a powerful curling shot beyond the outstretched Kevin Cuthbert.

Keatings was also involved in Hibs' second goal in the 50th minute.

The attacker got a faint touch on Lewis Stevenson's cross and Cummings had the simple task of tapping in at the back post.

But the match was not without controversy after Raith striker Jon Daly claimed that he should have been awarded a penalty just moments before Cummings' strike.

The former Rangers and Dundee United player was brought down by Mark Oxley after getting to David Gray's pass back before the Hibs goalkeeper.

Daly said: "The keeper has made contract with me. It's frustrating because two minutes later they go up the other end and make it two-nil.

"If you get that penalty it's a chance to make it one-one.

"I've played the ball before their keeper and I think you can see with the way the balls goes, it goes the other way. Just by the movement of the ball I think it's a clear penalty."