A shorter career in a Saints’ shirt is hardly possible as Cedric Baseya’s first and last appearance came as a stoppage-time substitute for Stern John, as Saints drew 1-1 at home to Ipswich, but the final whistle blew before he touched the ball.

A tall (6’4”) yet elegant striker,

he had been spotted playing in French regional football and was only 17 when he first arrived. He impressed in the Reserves and was loaned to Crewe where he had a chance to stake a claim for the striker role that Spurs loanee Lee Barnard, had recently been filling, but he only made one start at Gresty Rd. Qualified to play for the DR Congo through his parents (he was once called up to the full squad but the game was cancelled), the French-born Cedric never made it at St Marys and the same could be said of his spell at his next club Lille who he left without ever breaking into the first team. Brian McDermott then took a gamble on him at Reading in September 2011, describing him

a “strong lad and good in the air”,

but again he failed to win a place in the first team and was forced out on loan to seek regular football. He was last seen playing in France’s fourth tier.