Zakaria Labyad was a deadline day signing for Fulham - and if little is known about him his parent club boss, one Jorge Jesus at Sporting Clube de Portugal thinks the world of the attacking midfielder.

No Zac - no Jesus

A condition of Jorge Jesus taking the boss’s job at Sporting CP last summer was the return of Labyad from his loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem.

Jesus took on the job believing the midfielder could be a ‘pillar’ of the team.

Clearly, something hasn’t quite worked out since for Fulham to snap him up on loan.

Stoke City star is Labyad role model

The new White reckons he will do well to follow in the footsteps of Dutch international Ibrahim Afellay.

As Labyad put it: “Ibrahim is my friend. I have a lot of respect for him, not only because he plays in the same position as me, but also because as a person, he’s someone I look up to.”

Dazzle: Nasser El Khayati

He is fond of trains - or maybe home cooking

During his time at PSV Eindhoven from 2010-12 where the 18-year-old made 45 senior appearances, Labyad had to commute by train every day to Eindhoven - a 200k round-trip from his home in Utrecht where he and his family live.

He was the second Dutchman of Moroccan origin and also an attacking midfielder to sign for a west London club on deadline day

How’s that for coincidence?

As for Zakaria Labyad at Fulham, read Nasser El Khayati at QPR. Both are practising Muslims, and here is El Khayati’s five things you need to know. Peas in a pod or what?

Unlike Nasser El Khayati at QPR - Labyad has already represented his chosen country at senior level.

The Rangers midfielder has yet to get a call-up from either Morocco or the Netherlands, but the Fulham player has played for Morocco against Burkina Faso in 2012, as well as 17 appearances at U23 level and three for the U17s.

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