"Three years ago, I was in the lower reaches of football, not knowing what I was capable of I was going nowhere. "It was tough coming to a new country and having to adapt to a different culture," he says, "but I knew this was right for me." So it proved, as fresh offers began flooding in around Christmas 2001, although Sidibe decided to see out his contract with the Welsh club before joining Gillingham in the summer of 2002."It's been a fantastic experience for me in England," says the man who has started most matches since signing for the Kent club. He learned his football trade at Red Star, a small football club on the outskirts of Paris, but was released at 18 because "they were not sure about my talent".Sidibe then joined CA Paris, an amateur outfit who play in the equivalent of the French Seventh Division. "I guess I was just lucky that someone spotted me one day in the summer of 2001 and offered to be my agent. I agreed and, before I knew it, we were on the plane to Britain to go and have some trials."Swansea were the only club to give him a contract, and even then it was only for 12 months, but Sidibe jumped at the chance. He enjoyed himself, but this was hardly the place to stake his claim for international honours "No, not really," Sidibe agrees. Unlike Kanout?who was groomed at the prestigious Lyon Academy, Sidibe has had to fight his way to a professional career.

International football is every player's dream."Sidibe's own journey to recognition has been highly unorthodox The 24-year-old was born in Mali but raised in France. I believe that Freddie's intentions are honourable and, for that reason, I feel he should be encouraged to fulfil his international potential," he adds.Sidibe may be backing his new countryman, but he acknowledges that last week's ruling by the world governing body, Fifa, is controversial. The change in the laws allows players who have represented one nation to switch to another, so long as they have not earned a full senior cap. Kanout?s such a case, having played for France Under-21s on three occasions but never graduating to the A side.Another beneficiary is Leeds United's Lamine Sakho, who was raised in France but will play for Senegal in the Cup later this month. "I am sure that there will be more disputed cases in the future," Sidibe says, "but you cannot blame a player for using the rules to his advantage. On the one hand, I understand why Spurs, who pay his weekly wages, want Freddie to help them in the Premier League, but I also feel that you cannot deny a player his chance to participate in a big event."No matter what people may think, representing your country is an honour and a duty.

Steve Harmison took his usual seat at St James' Park the other night and then went home to Ashington. These are probably his favourite places in the whole world, and the suspicion is that he would like to pack them in his kitbag and take them with him everywhere. Or, better still, never leave them. Harmison is the great hope of English fast bowling, who has not yet realised his full potential and may never lose a reputation for being a reluctant international cricketer. On the day that he went to watch Newcastle United play Leeds United he had also been selected for England's tour of the West Indies. Of the two, the Magpies' 1-0 win might have made him happiest.There had been unfounded rumours that Harmison might not make the second England squad of the winter, either through suspect fitness, or an aversion to being away from home that had proved too much for the management and his colleagues to tolerate. He himself thought that the odds were 60-40 on his selection, but by his own admission he would have been disappointed rather than devastated if he had not been chosen.It is Harmison's misfortune that since he was first picked in an England squad in 2000 (though he did not actually play until two years later) he has attracted as much attention for his attitude to the job as his thrilling, raw pace. "It's a difficult one for everyone concerned," says Sidibe, who believes the African Nations' Cup should be played during the European summer, "and I don't think you can take sides.