Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce already had a fair idea of exactly where he wanted to deploy Olivier Kapo when he signed him this summer.
Bruce saw with his own eyes Kapo successfully operating behind a lone striker in his early days at Auxerre when he formed a successful rapport with Djibril Cisse a few seasons back.
And the only worry for the Blues boss was whether the Blues fans would allow him to get away with the seemingly defensive move of playing with just one striker at home.
But on Saturday, when he scored the only goal of the game to beat Bolton Wanderers, those Blues fans had their answer.
Kapo was used in the role in which he had impressed at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the season. Again, he was on target, just as he was at Chelsea.
And, with Cameron Jerome working so hard alongside him as that lone striker, Saturday's result appears to have answered the question of what system suits this Blues' line-up the best.
In that respect, the only doubt remains the perplexing mystery of why Gary McSheffrey has played so far below his potential since last Spring.
But Bruce is not short of midfield options following the pre-deadline arrival of Oubina and Wilson Palacios, and especially with Daniel de Ridder still to play his first game.
And the key to Blues' success this season would appear to be the creative influence Kapo can have with a hard-working four-man engine room doing the spade work behind him.
"Kapo is a talented player, who has that little extra thing you need in this league," said Blues team-mate Larsson, who set up the French international's late first-half matchwinner against Bolton.
"There have been a lot of French players to make their mark in this league and maybe he can be the next one. He's got two goals already and we hope it continues."
After the worry of seeing him have such a poor game up at Middlesbrough before the international break (on a day when almost every other Blues player seemed out on strike in sympathy with him), Bruce was certainly pleased to see Kapo back to form.
"That's where his best position is," said Bruce. "He had his best game there at Chelsea and also, when we've been playing McSheffrey and Kapo, we've been a little bit open."
As for Kapo himself, he might not speak a word of English, but thanks to the interpreting skills of Blues' multi-lingual No 2 Eric Black, he presses all the right buttons when it comes to saying all the right things.
"I enjoy playing in that role," said Kapo. "But it is up to the coach.
"If the coach wants me play somewhere else, it is my responsibility to do what I can wherever I play."
It is the same straight bat when it comes to the matter of whether Kapo will ever get to add to his current haul of nine caps (and three goals) for France.
"As long as things go well here, and I show what I am capable of, there is every chance," said Kapo. "But it is important what happens here first."
And the main priority for him is simply adding to the already impressive reputation of Frenchmen in English football, helped by being among so many of his own.
"I've watched English football on TV so I knew what I was coming to," he said. "I was desperate to be here and I have enjoyed it.
"I like the country and the mentality of the people and it is a family club. The boys are a good strong group
"And it helped that there were a few other people here who spoke French to help with me settling in. Fabrice Muamba, Rafael Schmitz, Franck Queudrue, Johan Djourou, Mehdi Nafti, Radhi Jaidi, Olivier Tebily and Eric Black. They all speak French."
