Dugarry’s five goals in his last six games have proved the catalyst to the Blues securing their Barclaycard Premiership status for next season and his class has rubbed off on his team-mates, who have played above themselves in recent weeks.

He grabbed his first goal for the club in the win over Sunderland and scored with an audacious backheel at Charlton before getting a brace at home to Southampton in a 3-2 win.

He also found the target in the Blues’ last home outing against Middlesbrough, a 3-0 win which confirmed the club’s continued presence among the elite.

The 31-year-old – part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 1998 and the team which also became European champions in 2000 – joins from Bordeaux, having played for AC Milan and Barcelona in a varied career.

He signed on loan for Birmingham in the January transfer window as manager Steve Bruce brought in six players to bolster his squad.

Bruce believes Dugarry is the best player ever to grace the club and said: “He’s a top, top player who could get into any team in Europe. Christophe has come over here and done extremely well for us.

“He’s not really been appreciated in his own country which is a bit like (Eric) Cantona, but in England they like seeing the physical side combined with flair.”