Belgian rookie striker Cedric Roussel says he wants to sign for Coventry City but he is doing so well that he could soon be out of their price range.

The 21 year old arrived from Ghent on loan to the end of the season, ostensibly as cover while John Aloisi and Noel Whelan recovered from long term injuries.

He hoped he might get the occasional chance at first team level in the league which he believes is the hardest and best in the world.

Instead he finds himself almost an indispensable member of the team in a fairy tale Yuletide period.

It means that whereas Coventry could have bought him for a relatively small fee a month ago, they might now have to pay considerably more as Ghent closely monitor his success to rachet up the asking price.

Gordon Strachan, Coventry’s manager, has confirmed he wants to take Roussel on a permanent basis but says:

"It depends on how much Ghent want for him and whether we can afford it."

Roussel crowned his early promise with a top quality display against the famed Arsenal defence on Boxing Day, in which England's captain Tony Adams was forced to resort to niggling tactics to try to subdue his young opponent.

The Belgian was hoping to continue his progress in another huge confrontation, this time with Chelsea’s Frank Leboeuf. But the French World Cup winner, who has been in a lot of trouble with referees this season, is suspended for this match.

Roussel will still be able to pit himself against Leboeuf’s World Cup Final team mate Marcel Desailly on Tuesday as Coventry go for their fifth successive home league victory over the star studded Chelsea side.