Sunday Herald, The: Beuzelin welcomes invasion of fantastic Frenchmen Hibernian Ewan

WHEN Scotland formed the Auld Alliance with France in 1295, not only did they gain extra support from their French cousins in battles against the English, but they were also extended the privilege of first taste of the finest in Bordeaux wines long before they went into circulation down south.

Now, while that 710-year association is still alive and strong to this day, it hasn't quite translated into giving the SPL the first shout on the finest footballers that former world champions France have to offer. After all, the English snared Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira and the Spanish were given Zinedine Zidane.

We got Stephane Guivarc'h.

We did, however, have the pleasure of a brief six-month sojourn by Jean-Alain Boumsong and, as the arms extend across the channel again this summer, there are at least four more French stars making their way across to Scotland to show off their talents at the Old Firm.

Jose-Karl Pierre Fanfan became the fourth former Le Championnat star to come to Glasgow in the summer when he signed for Rangers last week, following on the heels of Ibrox team-mate Brahim Hemdani and Celtic's Mo Camara and Jermie Aliadere. The Rangers pairing have perhaps the most impressive pedigree with Hemdani, a former Marseille skipper, and Fanfan, once rated at pounds-4 million and last season's captain of Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Celtic's pairing with Camara from Burnley and Aliadere on a season's loan deal from Arsenal - may just have the "wow" factor, according to another Frenchman who arrived as a virtual unknown to build up an impressive reputation last summer, Hibernian's Guillaume Beuzelin.

It took Beuzelin just 30 minutes of a training session to convince Tony Mowbray he was going to be a star and, as a keen student of the French game and someone who has either played with or against three of the Old Firm imports, Beuzelin is well placed to give his enthusiastic assessment on les nouveaux Franais.

"It's great for Scotland and for me personally that clubs are signing quality players from the French market, " said Beuzelin. "All of these players are very good and I'm sure they will make an impact on the Old Firm and in the SPL in Europe next year.

"Fanfan is exceptional. He's strong, has a great physique and is superb in the air. He will settle right into the style of Scottish football. He's a great signing for the SPL, a top-level player.

Rangers have done very well to get him and he reminds me so much of another of my former team-mates Jean-Alain Boumsong. He has the same quality and is pacy like Boumsong and maybe the only difference is that he is older than Jean-Alain.

"PSG would have wanted to keep a hold of a player like Fanfan. That's why I'm surprised that Rangers have managed to get him, and especially on a free transfer.

"If he plays alongside Hemdani in defence, it will be anamazing combination because their styles of play complement each other well. It was only a couple of years ago that Hemdani was Marseille's captain on their way to the Uefa Cup final. You don't get to be a leader of a team like Marseille unless you have real quality and he does." Apart from a questionable temperament, which exploded during a training ground bustup with former Marseille coach Phillipe Troussier, the 27-year-old is undoubtedly a quality player.

The same is true for the fleetfooted youngster he could be potentially marking in Old Firm matches next term, Aliadere.

The 22-year-old has yet to consistently turn it on at the toplevel but given that he has been behind the likes of Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes at Highbury, that is hardly a slight on his ability.

In fact, such is his vast potential to eventually become Henry's successor, that French coach Raymond Domenech has gone on record as saying a move to Celtic could well be the springboard the former Clairefontaine student needs to make the grade at international level.

With support from another pacy player in the shape of Beuzelin's former Le Havre team-mate Camara, Aliadere could shine.

"Aliadere never really played in France, " said Beuzelin.

"However, anyone who can go through the Clairefontaine system must have ability and a real chance of making it. I have watched him on TV and he is very talented and quick.

"The French coach Domenech said if Jeremie scores goals and does well at Celtic, then he may have a chance at international level.

That's a big ask because of the quality in ahead of him - Sylvain Wiltord, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry and Louis Saha - but it's encouraging to hear those words.

"I also think Celtic will be pleased with Camara. I played alongside him for two years before he left for Wolves and the thing that struck me was his pace.

"He is very quick down the flank and he'll work very hard for Celtic to get the ball and use it properly. I think he could be very successful there." Successful is certainly a word rightly attributed to Beuzelin himself last year.

Before an ankle injury hampered the end of his season, the midfield playmaker delighted the fans in Leith with his locker of tricks, which include Zidane's trademark "roulette spin".

Fitting, then, that Beuzelin for once got the chance to mix with the superstars of the world last week at Hibernian's pre-season base on the outskirts of Dublin. In Malahide, a village where U2 singer Bono owns property, Beuzelin dreams of giving the Hibs fans many more Beautiful Days now his injury woes are behind him.

"I've now got an added motivation and determination to do well because of what happened towards the end of last season, " added Beuzelin.

"It was hard sitting in the stand and watching my friends win at Celtic Park and Tynecastle, but all of that is in the past. I'm so excited about the next few months and I'm looking forward to trying to make an impact in the Uefa Cup."