Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs predicts that Dylan McGeouch's career will flourish, despite the midfielder so far failing to make the grade at Celtic.

Stubbs was thrilled to land McGeouch on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day in August and has watched the 21-year-old improve steadily with every passing game.

The Scotland under-21 cap was "head and shoulders" above everyone else in last weekend's Edinburgh derby against Hearts, according to Stubbs, but missed the midweek League Cup exit to Dundee United because of suspension.

McGeouch managed just nine starts for Celtic after signing in summer 2011, but has hit top form playing regularly in his preferred central midfield position for Hibs in recent weeks.

Stubbs said: "The performances Dylan has put in recently are why I brought him to Hibs. At big clubs, you have a lot of players and sometimes there's not necessarily a place for some players. It doesn't mean that Dylan has done anything wrong, but when you look at Celtic's midfield it's quite impressive. For a young lad trying to get into that, sometimes it can be difficult.

"Since he's come in he's been good, but I think over the last month he has really kicked on and his performance in last weekend's Edinburgh derby was outstanding. For me, he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch."

Stubbs is adamant the player, who is out of contract at Celtic at the end of the campaign, has proved he has all the attributes to make a success of his career.

And the former defender, who came to Hibs after six years working with some of England's brightest young talents in his role as Everton reserve coach, believes he can help make McGeouch even better.

Stubbs said: "I certainly feel as if I can do that, there's no doubt. It's quite easy for me, when you've got someone who's got ability, to make it better. He's got a lot of responsibility, he takes responsibility."