When Robert Pires started his war of words with France boss Raymond Domenech, he had just been replaced by Daniel Moreira against Cyprus.

But if there is one player the Arsenal man ought to have been worried about in the national set-up, it is Lyon's ambitious midfielder Florent Malouda.

At 24 years of age, the speedy Guyanan-born winger made his debut for Les Bleus against Poland at the Stade de France in November 2004 - a far cry from his first taste of the professional game on the bench for Ligue 2 side Châteauroux in the 1998-99 season.

And whereas most of Raymond Domenech's debutants had grown up with the France Coach when he was in charge of the Under-21 side, Malouda has had to earn his place as an unknown quantity. "I remember getting called up to the Espoirs when I was just a sub at Châteauroux, but then when I was actually playing for three whole seasons with Guingamp - nothing at all."

Malouda's time with the Brittany outfit was far from wasted, though. Mostly employed as a forward, he formed an explosive partnership with Didier Drogba and netted 10 goals in the 2002-03 campaign. The bigger clubs were soon taking notice and, after Drogba was snapped up by Marseille, Malouda secured the move he had always wished for.

"Lyon had been on my mind as long as I can remember," he said soon after signing in July 2003. "I really wanted to come here. I made it a goal for myself and, for someone from Guyana, joining a club like this is a dream come true." Brought in to play on the left of midfield, Malouda can also operate behind the strikers and stand in at left-back if required. Technically-gifted, powerful and lightning quick on the break, he is a key figure in Paul Le Guen's side and possesses that rare quality in football – an excellent left foot.

And whether he is charging down the flank to set up the French champions' first goal away to Bremen in the Champions' League, or scoring for himself against Ligue 1 sides like Caen and Toulouse, Malouda seems to rise to every challenge he is presented with.

The next challenge, of course, is holding down a regular spot with France side, much like his Guyanan idol Bernard Lama. But if his encouraging debut is anything to go by, he has every chance of making that blue shirt his own. "It's crazy when I think how far I've come since Guingamp," he says. Pires should be concerned about how far he is capable of going.