Spurs’ latest recruit, Roman Pavlyuchenko has admitted he is going to find it difficult communicating with his new team-mates.

Striker Pavlyuchenko, due to arrive at White Hart Lane today, admits he knows next to no English and confesses to being a dunce in the classroom. 

As he prepared for his visit to London he said: “I know only a couple of English words but I don’t think I should say them out loud. On the pitch players are usually yellow-carded for them.

“The club promised to provide an interpreter for me and I’ll start learning the language – I just have to. My wife Larisa does speak it a little. She was not as bad at school as I was. For me English lessons didn’t exist. The teachers realised that and didn’t push me.”

Pavlyuchenko, 26, whose two goals against England last autumn put them out of Euro 2008, admits if he was not a footballer he would probably be a truck driver.

He said: “I just can’t learn anything. To study was always hard for me. Playing football is the only thing I know. If I wasn’t a footballer I’d probably be a driver like my father.” 

But now the player is looking forward to the challenges of a new life in London. He said: “Initially I’m going to live in London alone. I’m going to miss my wife and daughter but my family will join me later.

“I’ll do everything possible to be in the Spurs starting line up permanently.”