Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur - Peter White's big match preview

GEORGE Graham has been fairly careful with the cheque book since taking over at Tottenham Hotspur.

And his £750,000 investment in Steffen Freund is hardly going to break whatever budget has been laid down by Spurs owner Alan Sugar.

But both Graham and Tottenham's director of football David Pleat believe they could well have struck gold in the German international midfielder.

At a time when London rivals West Ham are still prepared to pay heavily to import foreign talent, such as the reported £4 million-plus they splashed for Marc-Vivien Foe from Lens this week, Spurs could have pulled off one of the season's bargain buys.

Freund, who celebrated his 29th birthday last week, has already made a difference in the few short weeks since his arrival at White Hart Lane from Borussia Dortmund. And, given Blackburn Rovers' list of midfield absentees, the German could have an influential role to play at Ewood tomorrow.

Graham believes he will become the midfield enforcer that Tottenham have probably lacked for some time, but he is not known just for his tough tackling.

He is a capable passer of the ball too and that opens doors for other players in the side - which is rather appropriate as Freund is also a qualified locksmith!

Spurs could have waited until the end of the season when he would have been available for nothing as a Bosman signing.

But Pleat said: "We wanted to do the deal now because Freund is the kind of midfield action man that every club needs."

Graham is pleased by the overall progress made at White Hart Lane so far but feels Spurs still have a long way to go and that the German will be a key part in that development. "There is great enthusiasm running through the side now," said the manager.

"But we still needed something more to make sure the improvement continues.

"It's something that the top teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all have, players who dominate the midfield and make others play.

"This guy has all the experience in the world with Borussia Dortmund in their European campaigns and with Germany as part of their squad in Euro 96 and the World Cup finals."

So taken was Graham with getting his new man that he even agreed to honour a commitment to a family holiday that the midfielder had arranged for Germany's mid-season break.

He eventually made his bow earlier this month and instantly made an impression.

But what else would you expect from a man who has overcome a series of injury problems to stay at the top?

Jurgen Klinsmann brought charisma back to the club in his time with Spurs. The latest arrival from Germany is likely to add steel to the cause.

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