Poor man's Zidane is new Spurs darling

His career has been both controversial and complicated after becoming saddled with the Zidane comparison while playing for French team Lens.

Success at Lens soon earned him a move moving to French giants Marseille, where he teamed up with Chelsea defender William Gallas. But coach Roland Courbis often played Dalmat as a left back and the pair never saw eye to eye before Dalmat finally left for Paris St-Germain.

However, his spell there also became difficult. Coach Philippe Bergeroo utilised him as a right winger with Ali Benarbia occupying central midfield. The trio of Dalmat, Benarbia and Laurent Robert, now with Newcastle, had a great season but PSG did not and the coach was fired. His replacement turned out to be Luis Fernandez and Dalmat's plight became much worse.

He became victimised by the rest of the players for his attitude and was even made to pick up training cones after practice just so that Fernandez could prove the point to him that he should not be so arrogant.

Luckily for Dalmat, Inter coach Marco Tardelli was desperate to sign him. It was here that he made a name for himself as a left winger. However, he spent much of his last season out of action through injury before Spurs took the gamble on him.

Incredibly, the player also seems to be disliked in his native France. His bad times with Marseille and PSG possibly contributing to a lack of international recognition.

Thus a player once dubbed the natural successor to Zidane finds he is ignored by his national side. Even when Pires was injured before the last World Cup, Dalmat was not considered. But the fans and acting manager David Pleat have been inspired by his versatility after a few minor problems when he first arrived in England.

His father was ill and his family could not settle but Pleat wisely allowed him to go home for a few days. He returned in a much more positive frame of mind.

His speed, technique and skill in tight situations make him a handful although he is prone to over-elaborate. Against Birmingham, however, most of his touches came off and Steve Bruce admitted his side "simply could not cope with him".

Spurs again have doubts over defenders Anthony Gardner and Dean Richards, who both missed the win against Birmingham. Mauricio Taricco is back from suspension.