SAM Allardyce believes Khalilou Fadiga is already halfway to becoming a Reebok hit after winning his battle against a career-threatening heart scare.

The Wanderers boss ended a week of speculation on Tuesday when he confirmed the Senegal international as the final piece in his Premiership jigsaw.

Fadiga has joined Wanderers on a free transfer after making a successful recovery from heart surgery.

He was diagnosed as having an irregular heartbeat last season after struggling to make an impact in Italy following a £5million transfer from Auxerre to Inter Milan, and it was feared he may never play football again.

Allardyce believes the 29-year-old midfielder's determination to overcome such a serious medical problem -- he twice underwent surgery in America before an operation in Brussels in April finally resolved the problem -- proves he has what it takes to get back in the big time.

"I always like to find players who have had problems in life and his problem was bigger than most," he said, voicing his admiration of the man who was a key member of the Senegal side that beat holders France in the first shock result of the 2002 World Cup Finals in Korea and Japan, where they went on to reach the quarter-finals.

"He discovered he had a career-threatening illness, or defect. When you are told by some doctor that your heart's beating too fast and you can't play football any more, your life is devastated.

"Others in his position might have just retired but he secured the best surgeon to do the job and our examinations show that he now has a clear medical record.

"He is already 50 per cent towards being successful because of his determination and his attitude.

"He's shown a wonderful attitude and wonderful piece of determination to say he wants to come to the Premiership."

Fadiga, who was linked with a move to Southampton in January, appeared to have turned his back on Wanderers last week when he accused the club of moving the goalposts during negotiations. But Allardyce refused to take "no" for an answer and was always hopeful that he could reach an agreement.

That agreement came when Fadiga, an attacking midfielder with 30 international caps to his name, joined fellow Senegal star El-Hadji Diouf at the Reebok, signing a contract until the end of the season with an option for an extension.

"He will be good to have on the front line when he gets fit in about four to six weeks," said Allardyce, confirming that his tenth signing since the end of last season marks the end of his squad strengthening until the transfer window re-opens in January. He has now cooled his interest in former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

The lure of the Premiership is too strong for anybody now -- not many players in the world would not want to come and play here, but very few are prepared to show such determination to do it.

"He'd had the biggest move of his life to Milan and all of sudden he was devastated.