Teemu Tainio is backing Benoit Assou-Ekotto to follow in his footsteps from France and be a hit in the Premiership.
Finland international Teemu made the same journey from Le Championnat to the Lane last season and impressed everyone with his all-action displays in midfield.
Highly-rated full-back Benoit arrived from RC Lens this summer and Teemu says he brings with him all the attributes needed to flourish in the Premiership.
"Benoit’s fast, aggressive and has a good left foot – it’s a very good signing," said Teemu, who starred from Auxerre in France and would no doubt have figured more than 25 times for us last term but for a couple of niggling injuries.
"He was left-back when he played in France and obviously I was here last season so I didn't watch him but I spoke to my friends in France and they all said how well he played last season.
"Every club wants a big squad and now I think we have two players in each position, that’s important. Hopefully we’ll go far in the cups and play a lot of games next season, we have Europe as well and we will need those players."