When William Gallas arrived at White Hart Lane he was not greeted with universal acclaim by Tottenham fans, given the fact he was captain at the Emirates and had dared to cross the North London divide but perhaps the recent injury to Michael Dawson in the European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria offers further justification for Redknapp bringing him in. Their number 13 may prove lucky in the absence of their key man.

Although the injury to Tottenham’s player of the season for 2009-2010 is not as bad as initially feared, it will still rule him out until the end of October meaning he will miss Spurs’ first three Champions’ League group games as well as key Premier League matches making the need for experience seem all the more predominant.

Redknapp made it clear that the Frenchmen was no “Yorkshire ripper” and that his qualities would suppress the notion he had bought one of their closest rivals ‘rejects’ and if there was ever a time to prove that – it is now.

He commented, "Jonathan Woodgate is struggling, Ledley King can't play every game and you also have to remember that Michael had an Achilles injury last season, so it was always a position we needed to do something in and that's why we did it (signed Gallas)”

"He'll give us a bit of know-how and a real presence. You don't do what he's done in the game without being a top, top player and he's got all the medals to show for it."

And who could argue with the fact he is a perfect replacement having played over 250 times for Arsenal and Chelsea, clocking up numerous Champions League appearances in the process.

In Gallas they have a player who can slot in against the likes of Werder Bremen and even Arsenal in the Carling Cup with relative ease. It is with relative ease in which he will have to urgently adapt to life at Spurs due to the immense showings of Michael Dawson last term.

He was a defensive stalwart for the North London side and endeared himself to the Spurs faithful and even captaining the side for much of the campaign. Fabio Capello was also impressed with his outstanding domestic contribution picking him for the initial 30-man squad and then recalling him into the side when Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was injured in training.

It remains to be seen whether Gallas can emulate such good form in his extended run in the side and if he does; it could well be another masterstroke from Harry Redknapp in the transfer market.