Bonjour Monsieur!

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/12/2008

FRENCH striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro has joined the Mariners today, signing an 18-month deal at Blundell Park. Mike Newell liked what he saw in yesterday's reserve game against Bradford, which Town won 2-1, and persuaded the Frenchmen to join Grimsby.

Mike Newell is now contemplating playing the 21-year-old immediately in Town's crunch match at Port Vale on Saturday.

Newell told the Grimsby Telegraph: "We could virtually play him immediately - which I would do - I would have no qualms about throwing him in.

"Firstly he had a great attitude. Sometimes with these trialists, their commitment is perhaps not what it should be. I certainly couldn't level that at the lad. He had a real go.

"He's got good ability, a bit of pace, good in the air, and I think he could certainly be better than this division."

Akpro joins compatriot Mickael Buscher, who earlier this week had a contract approved by the FA . The attacking midfielder will remain at Blundell Park until the end of the season.

A third French-speaker at Blundell Park is on-loan midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala, who may well join the Mariners permanently in January when his loan deal from Oldham expires.