Four years after leaving Lens for the bright lights of London, one of the most exciting young French talents is back in his homeland. Kakuta agreed to join Dijon on loan until the end of the season and, after scoring his first Ligue 1 goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Brest, the 20-year-old now has Paris Saint-Germain in his sights in the Coupe de France.

Born in Lille, Kakuta has played only sporadically at the top level in England, having struggled in the face of fierce competition for places at Chelsea. However, the player himself says his experience so far at Stamford Bridge has been positive.

'Learnt a lot'

"I don't feel like I have wasted time," he says, dismissing suggestions that he might have been better off learning his trade at a more modest club. "I have learnt a lot from the different coaches I have worked with even although I have not played a lot of games."

Current PSG coach, and former Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti admits "it is always difficult to give young players a chance in the first-team there," but that did not prevent the Italian from handing Kakuta - then just 18 - his first-team debut in a Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"I didn't expect my debut to come so soon," says Kakuta. "It was the 21st of November 2009, at home against Wolves. The coach told me to go and warm up, and I realised that I might get my chance. We were 3-0 up at half-time, and then we scored a fourth five minutes after half-time, so the coach decided to throw me on. It is something I will never forget."

Kakuta went on to make his full debut just a few weeks later, but rather than win a regular place at Chelsea, soon he found himself out on loan. After spells at Chelsea's west London neighbours Fulham and at Bolton Wanderers, Kakuta agreed to move to Burgundy in the January window.

"The coach here told me that he would make me into the player I should be but that nothing would just be given to me. That has motivated me. I need people like him behind me," says Kakuta, explaining why he was prepared to join the promoted club as they seek to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2.

Carteron: 'The right place at the right time'

"I feel that he is in the right place at the right time here," says his new coach Patrice Carteron. "I am certain that we can help him blossom and that in the coming weeks he will show exactly why he is so highly-rated.

"He has the talent but he has not fully matured yet. People talk about him as if he had already enjoyed a hugely successful career, when in reality it has not even started. There is a discrepancy there between how big a name he is and the reality of his performances on the pitch. Here, we need to try and give Gael Kakuta game time and if he can perform at a decent level over a number of weeks - months even - then my mission will have been accomplished."

Not the new Zidane!

After scoring twice in three competitive appearances for Dijon - he also netted in the Coupe de France round-of-32 win against Istres - Kakuta himself is already considering the prospect of extending his stay in Burgundy should Dijon beat the drop. He wants to make a name for himself in France, and stop comparisons with a certain Zinedine Zidane that he insists are too much.

"Every year a new Zidane emerges. There was Nasri, Ben Arfa, the list goes on. Every year, but for me there will only be ever one and that is Zinedine Zidane himself….Well, maybe his son, I hope, for his sake anyway!"

>> PLAYER PROFILE: Gaël Kakuta

>> CLUB PROFILE: Dijon FCO