Yohan Cabaye 'born again' since joining Crystal Palace, says Didier Deschamps

Cabaye signed for the Eagles this summer in a deal widely regarded as one of the finest transfer coups of the year, Alan Pardew paying around £10m for a player who Newcastle had sold to PSG for £17.5m some 18 months previously.

And while the 29-year-old had struggled to fit in with the Ligue 1 giants, he has been in sublime form since returning to the Premier League - and it has not escaped the notice of the French national team boss.

"Rebirth is a big word for an international player like him,” said Deschamps. "He did not play often enough with his club [last season], or at least not during the important games. It was frustrating for him.

"We spoke before he made this decision to join Crystal Palace. He is joining a smaller club, with a coach who was very anxious to sign him up and now he does not need to wonder if he will play the next game or not."

Cabaye himself made similar noises about a move which appears to have reignited his love of the game - and he believes that Palace are equal to the task of keeping their fine start to the season going.

Pardew's men currently lie fourth in the table, and while we are less than a quarter of the way through the campaign people are already suggesting that the club could earn a spot in Europe next year.

"It is almost like my first year at Newcastle, when we finished fifth," he said. "There is still a long way to go but we can do something special this year.

"It is very difficult for other teams to play at Selhurst Park. The atmosphere is great and that is fantastic. We just have to work hard and go match by match.”