After scoring, Spurs' Pavlyuchenko declares: Now I'll crack the language

Despite his previous assertions that he had been a dunce at school, he said: 'I'm studying the language, and I can already understand some words.

'My tutor said he had a special course for foreigners. And his pupils start talking in just a couple of months.   

Off and running: Roman Pavlyuchenko opens his account for Spurs against Newcastle

'He said he had had students from Africa, and they did quite well. So there won't be any problems with me, he said.    

'Next year I'll be able to speak to Guus Hiddink in English! I bet he'll be surprised!'   Pavlyuchenko added, smiling: 'I'll be Hiddink's right hand man.'

The Russian striker, for whom Spurs paid £13.8million in the transfer window, was a figure of fun last week when Wigan boss Steve Bruce revealed he had spotted him poring over an English phrasebook in the hotel before last Sunday's League match at White Hart Lane.

Pavlyuchenko also spoke about his problems in coming to terms with everyday life in London.

He said: 'I've actually been in London itself only one time. And it was late at night, I went to a restaurant for dinner. I don't have time to walk around the city.    

'At the first the traffic driving on the left hand side confused me a lot. Once, when I was crossing a road I was looking at another side, and a car almost knocked me down.'

The Russian also revealed he visited Spurs manager Juande Ramos at home, to ask why he had been substituted.    

"I asked him what I had done wrong. He said it wasn't because I was not playing well enough, it was just a decision to change tactics. He told me not to bother my head with stuff like that.

'He told me about Ronaldo, who simply couldn't play during the first five games he was here, because he didn't feel at home.'   

New world: Pavlyuchenko arrives at Heathrow last month to sign for Spurs

But Pavlyuchenko is impressed by the crowds in England - and the pitches. 'The stadium is really something crazy,' he said. 'I don't know how to describe it. It really gives you the tingles when you step onto the pitch.

'And the pitch is like a billiard table. I've never seen anything like that before. It's even, with short grass, and it's a real pleasure to play on.

'The fans sing the entire game; if there's an exciting moment they stand up and applaud.    

'They like it when you don't spare yourself and play to your maximum. They don't even need goals, they just need to see a battle for every inch of the pitch.'