James Perch is content to be cast in the role of unsung hero in Newcastle's continuing mission to upset the Barclays Premier League's accepted order.
While manager Alan Pardew this week moved to rule himself out of the race to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss, and big-money signing Papiss Cisse marked his debut with a stunning winning goal, Perch was quietly going about the business of establishing himself in the team.
The 26-year-old former Nottingham Forest player has emerged from a difficult start to his career on Tyneside to provide vital midfield solidity in recent weeks in the absence of Cheick Tiote.
His performances in the second half at Blackburn and throughout last weekend's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Aston Villa may not have won him a share of the headlines, but they have not gone unnoticed in the dressing room or in the stands.
It is all a far cry from his early months at the club when, after being brought in by Chris Hughton in the wake of the Magpies' promotion, he was booked in each of his first five top-flight games as he struggled to make the step-up.
Perch said: "It was a tough start, a tough first year, maybe, but the gaffer has put his faith in me and put me in the side, and all I can do is try to pay him back by playing well on a Saturday afternoon.
"It's going well. I have only played the last three games or whatever, but it's going well at the minute, touch wood."
Pardew's side face a tough trip to Spurs on Saturday with the Londoners flying high in third place and still harbouring hopes of a late title challenge.
They will do so once again without Yohan Cabaye, who completes his three-match ban, and for the final time before his return, central midfielder partner Tiote, whose Ivory Coast side have reached Sunday's African Nations Cup final.
However, the response Pardew got from Danny Guthrie and in particular Perch in their place last week has eased his fears.
Pardew said: "If you speak to him, he would probably say he is playing in his natural position, so that helps.
"Bless him, he has had to play at centre-half, right-back, left-back, everywhere for me.
"Centre-midfield is probably his best position. He puts a tackle in, he keeps the ball and has good energy, so he has been important without Cheick in the last couple of games."
Perch is delighted simply to have been trusted with a key job in the side.
He said: "When Cheick went to the African Nations Cup and Yohan was suspended, people maybe feared the worst, 'Who's going to go in there?', and 'Can we still win the games?'.
"Even though they are a massive loss and great, great players, international players and we do miss them, it just shows that we have got the depth in the squad to handle it."
Tomorrow's task, however, will take some handling with Spurs having lost only once in their last 13 games in all competitions, and that at leaders Manchester City.
Perch said: "They are going to try to win the championship. They have got that in their heads and they have got great players.
"I think they have the squad to do it. They have performed well all season. I do like Tottenham.
"I like the way they play the game and I hope they push on, get near the top and challenge for that championship - after Saturday, of course, after our dent."
Pardew will be without injured duo Leon Best and Ryan Taylor at White Hart Lane with the former likely to miss the remainder of the season as he recovers from a medial ligament injury.
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