Following the departure of England's Sol Campbell to Arsenal, King has filled the sizeable void in Spurs' defence with the minimum amount of fuss but the maximum of effect.

The former England coach said: "Ledley has put in superb back-to-back performances for four or five games now - so he's got the consistency in his bag.

"At his age (20) he's got a bright future. He's solid with deceptive pace and strength, he's got good use of the ball and when he comes forward he does things.

"Ledley looks potentially as if he can go on and become better and better. He is already playing for England Under-21s and he has got a rare talent.

"That talent is as an English defender who can play off both feet, in the left or the right channel. He is quick and strong, so he has got every attribute a defender needs." And King's excellent run of form will not have gone unnoticed by Under-21 coach David Platt as he looks to finalise his plans for the crucial forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Greece, to be staged in Blackburn on October 5.

With the experienced Gareth Barry currently partnering King at the heart of the defence, and with team captain John Terry ready to return from suspension should England qualify for the play-offs, Platt looks to have a solid defensive platform on which to build.

While, further up-field, the combined talents of the likes of Joe Cole, Luke Chadwick, Jermain Defoe, Darius Vassell and Francis Jeffers is enough to put fear into any opposition defence.