Yuri Zhirkov

Zhirkov arrived from CSKA Moscow in the summer with a reputation as a pacy winger capable of beating players, but one who could also fill in at left-back.

Injury to Ashley Cole meant we certainly saw the latter, but the form of others, largely Florent Malouda, meant the 26-year-old's attacking prowess only came to the fore in flashes.

The player himself admitted there was a struggle as he adapted to a new country and a new club without the day-to-day involvement that full training allows.

Speaking just before Christmas, by which time he had still only played a handful of matches, Yury announced he had not 'done anything special so far' but chances would come in 2010.

He impressed against Watford and Sunderland, creating goals in each, and figured regularly during a January where we were missing key players at the African Cup of Nations.

Then came Cole's injury in early February, a fractured ankle that would keep him out two months. Such luck then that just two games into his spell at left-back, Zhirkov suffered injury of his own - a knock on the calf against Wolves resulting in him missing our Champions League first leg against Inter.

Back for the second leg, he found himself marginalised by the excellent Maicon and too often sucked inside on the defensive. If that night was a low in the season, then his highlight was undoubtedly against Aston Villa 11 days later.

Given free rein to attack, he galloped forward time and again, twice beating his man inside the area before being brought down for penalties, and then supplying the pinpoint cross for Malouda to volley home the goal of the game.

Cole's return to fitness in late April meant Yury featured less in the run-in.

His talents were noticed and he was given trials by CSKA, Lokomotiv and Spartak Moscow, but it was CSKA where he cemented his place as a wide man with a deft left foot, lightning pace and exceptional dribbling ability. He scored 15 goals in 139 appearances for the club.

He can play left-back but is comfortable in any position on that wing and it was as a more attacking left-sider that he won the Uefa Cup in 2005 after scoring during a 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the final, held in Lisbon. The strike was his side's second in the game as they came back from a goal down.

During CSKA's 2006/07 campaign, Zhirkov's goal against Hamburg in the Champions League was awarded best goal of the competition by Uefa's magazine.

He first played for Russia on 9 February 2005 against Italy and has made 31 appearances for his country, the majority of which have come under Guus Hiddink's guidance.

He was named in the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament after an impressive contribution throughout the competition as a wing-back when Russia were the surprise package in making the semi-finals. They lost to eventual winners Spain.

In October of the same year, Zhirkov was named as one of the 30 nominees for the European Ballon d'Or award. He was also voted 2008 Russian Premier League Player of the Season.

He is no stranger to silverware, winning the Russian Premier League twice with CSKA, once in 2005 and again in 2006.

He has three Russian Cups to his name, in 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as four Russian Super Cups, the most recent of which was won last season.

In 2004 he faced Chelsea twice in the Champions League group stage and was part of a side that lost 2-0 at the Bridge. In the second game in the Russian capital, Zhirkov won a clear penalty when fouled by Glen Johnson. The spot-kick was missed and Chelsea went on to win 1-0.