SOFIENE Zaaboub is a whisker away from his first Town goal as he plots his course to the Premiership.

The Frenchman, who has agreed a deal to the end of the 2007-08 campaign, wants to follow in the footsteps of his former France teammate Jeremie Aliadiere (of Arsenal) and his friend at Bolton Wanderers' striker El Hadji Diouf.

In the shorter term, the former French under 19 star is also keen to have a shave but that appears out of the question until he breaks his scoring duck!

Zaaboub has pledged everything to the Town cause but he has no intention of accepting an endless stint in League Two.

After a period of brief spells and trials at numerous clubs across Europe, the 23-year-old is grateful to Paul Sturrock for offering him a chance and the stability that goes with a contract.

He said: "I am very happy to be here and to have 18 months.

"I am happy that Paul Sturrock did not forget me after leaving Sheffield Wednesday (where Zaaboub had one of his numerous trial spells) and I will work very hard for the team.

"I need stability and I want to stay in England. It isn't good to keep leaving places.

"When you have the manager with you and the supporters with you, you just want to do more and more for them."

Zaaboub, who insists he is happy at either left back or the left side of midfield, believes he has joined a team going in one direction.

He said: "We need to go up out of this league. We have talent in the team and we have the quality to go up."

Zaaboub, who cites Zinedine Zidane as his inspiration, wants to achieve success in Wiltshire but there is an overall career goal.

He said: "My ambition in three years is that I want to play in the Championship or the Premiership and I will work hard every day towards that."

As for goals of a different kind, Zaaboub is well aware that he has yet to net for Town.

And until that changes, fans had better get used to an increasing hairy player on the pitch.

He said: "I need to score. I shave when I score my first goal."

Zaaboub isn't the only one with a smile on his face about joining Town. His manager is delighted as well.

Paul Sturrock said: "The meat and veg of the contract has been agreed.

"I feel it's like a new signing. He has come in and done very well.

"He's committed himself to the football club, shown everyone that he's got great potential and he's the type of signing we'd like to bring to this football club."