Former Celtic defender David van Zanten wants to experience European football on a regular basis on the pitch with Hibernian.The 26-year-old is Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen's only summer signing so far and is in line to make his debut in Sunday's Intertoto Cup meeting with impressive Swedish outfit Elfsborg.

The Irishman was released by Celtic five years ago but only after experiencing at first hand the hype that surrounds appearances by the Old Firm giants in the rarefied atmosphere of the Champions League.

Now, having rebuilt his career with St Mirren, the full-back is desperate to prove his move to Hibs was the right one to make as he aims to compete regularly with the continent's finest.

He said: "When I was with Celtic, we went to the Champions League games and they were always the best atmospheres and the best occasions at Parkhead.

"The best was when they played Valencia and it went to penalties. They were beaten but the atmosphere during the game and in the penalties was incredible.

"European football was a major factor in my move to Hibs.

"For my ambitions, I wanted to be involved in a team that was challenging at the top of the table and consistently challenging for European football, and I've made that move now."

Van Zanten watched on last season as Aberdeen negotiated matches in the UEFA Cup group stages against Atletico Madrid, Copenhagen, Panathinaikos and Lokomotiv Moscow to win a glamour tie with Bayern Munich.

And, with 11 third-round victors going through to the UEFA Cup qualifiers, the full-back is relishing the prospect of following the path of the Pittodrie outfit via the Intertoto Cup.

He added: "There's a massive incentive if you look at Aberdeen last season, playing Bayern Munich and some top teams.

"Sitting watching it, you want to be involved in games like that. We've got the chance to maybe get involved in the UEFA Cup, so we want to take the opportunity if we can.

"This game probably will be a little bit different because we are just back to pre-season training and it's coming so early on.

"But I'm sure the fans will turn out, just for the fact it's a European game. They don't come around that often."

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