The one-time Chelsea starlet signed a two year deal with the Scottish club this week after a season spent in Melbourne.

He had been tipped for a move to the Jets and had trialled with the NSW side but opted for the Easter Road side instead after a chat with Hibs veteran Brebner.

The Victory midfielder told Keenan how good Hibs was - and warned Keenan not to get sucked in by the Australian lifestyle at the expense of his career.

"I was very good friends with Grant and he had nothing but praise for the club," Keenan told The Scotsman. "He made me feel very welcome when I went to Melbourne so he was one of the first people I talked to.

"I was over there and I just thought that, at 25, my career would just pass me by there. It's hard to go anywhere from there.

"The league is up and coming and it's a great lifestyle, but I wanted to play back in Europe. My agent started putting my name out and Hibs got in touch.

"They invited me to come for a trial game with St Johnstone and I must have done okay. The Chelsea thing was great, but the reality was it was only three games and I had to leave them.

"I enjoyed my time in Belgium, Holland and Australia, but I want to settle somewhere now."

Keenan revealed he had Scottish ties and was already feeling back at home in the Scottish capital.

He added: "My mum is from Edinburgh and my uncle Iain is a big Hibs fan and used to talk about them a lot so there is some history there.

"My uncle drove me around the stadium when I was younger and told me all about the club, but he was too tight to take me to see a game!

"I also knew Filipe Morais and Yves Ma-Kalambay from my Chelsea days as well so in many ways it was quite easy to fit in."