Wayne magic can make him wing wizard at Spurs

"At the moment there is no one at Spurs who appears to be doing that. Even when things are not going so well it's always nice to see someone running at an opponent. It not only turns defence into attack but it can also raise the crowd.

"A lot of clubs now play with wing backs, but I still think a system which uses proper wingers is more effective. I remember watching Cliff Jones, who was probably Spurs' most famous winger, and how good he was. I also played with Chris Waddle, who was very popular. Chris could play on either the right or the left and had a fantastic ability to come inside."

Having only played half a season in the Premiership, Routledge still has plenty to prove, but Galvin believes he has the potential to be a big hit at Spurs.

The former Irish international, who recently left his academic job as head of sport and leisure studies at Uxbridge College to work for the Hertfordshire Learning Skills Council, said: "I think Routledge could become a top winger. From what I have seen of him. he seems pretty fearless and does not mind taking players on.

"I think he is about as a good as they are going to get for that sort of money. He is a bit raw and certainly not the finished article, but you wouldn't expect that. The club would need to spend eight or nine million for that sort of player."

If they clinch a deal for Routledge, Spurs will abandon their pursuit of Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid.

Reid is rated at £4m by Forest but Galvin is not convinced by the Republic of Ireland international.

"He said: "Having seen him play, you can probably work out why Spurs have not so far paid the big money for him. He is not the most mobile."

Deprived of natural width this season, Jol has improvised. Reto Ziegler, 18, who was signed as a player for the future, has done an outstanding job on the left, while central midfielder Pedro Mendes has filled in admirably on the right. Jol can also call on other wide midfielders such as Dean Marney, Rohan Ricketts and Simon Davies - when he returns from a virus - but no traditional wingers.

As well as Routledge and Reid, the club have also enquired about Swedish winger Christian Wilhelmsson, though his club, Anderlecht, are unlikely to sanction a move.

With Routledge now favourite to fill the void, Jol said: "He is a young, talented player, so why not? We have put an offer in for him, but I don't know what the situation is.

"We play 4-4-2. We have to play to our strengths and our strength is the strikers.

"But we have to get service into the strikers. We need someone to get the ball out wide - like Shaun Wright-Phillips is doing - and get some crosses in. So we are looking for one winger. Wilhelmsson, for example, can play on the right or the left. Routledge can do that too. Now he plays in a 4-3-3 but I think he can develop to play 4-4-2."

At Palace, who entertain Spurs tomorrow, there is a growing acceptance that Eltham-born Routledge will move before the end of January. After the England Under-21 international turned down a new five-year contract, the club risk his transfer fee being decided at tribunal if they keep him until May.

For the trip to Selhurst Park, Spurs are missing Thimothee Atouba (knee), Fredi Kanoute (hamstring), Davies (virus) and Michael Brown (suspended).