Yohan Cabaye says learning English has been a priority ever since arriving at Newcastle United.

Pull up alongside his car and you will see an international footballer merrily chatting away to himself behind the wheel . It is al l thanks to advice from Lille's fitness coach Gregory Dupont.

"On the first day I arrived I only knew the basics," Cabaye told the Daily Mail. "It was like schoolboy English. I could only say hello and goodbye or ask very simple questions.

"Gregory told me to get some language CDs and put them on in the car. He told me it worked for him and although he is back at Lille now, when he was at Celtic he was the same as me. He was there for two years and now he is nearly perfect in English and he can also read English books.

"I also tried to put myself in someone else's shoes. If a foreign player came to France I would appreciate him making the effort to learn the language. As soon as I signed we found a home so we could settle in quickly and wouldn't have to live in a hotel. I like the northern mentality. It is a nice warm environment, similar to Lille."