Just two months ago, you would have had to have snook him in and out of ER with a blanket over his head, but ER has gone crazy over EHD and I witnessed it with my very own eyes after the Barnsley win.

I cannot recall my own reaction word-for-word back in May, but I think I was fairly open minded and philosophical about the man who I had hurled vile abuse by the bucketload towards in February during the infamous battle against Doncaster Rovers which extended into the tunnel post our dramatic 3-2 win in front of boss-in-waiting Neil Warnock.

In a way I cringed that I used the argument that on that February afternoon, Diouf was head-and-shoulders the player on the park. When I did toellandback in paper format, we ran an end of season poll and one of the questions was, who should Leeds sign? As well as the untouchables, Zidane et al we would have the odd vote for players who had a half-decent game against us...Marco Delvecchio of Roma for example. One reader even suggested "Jimmy's mate" Nuno Gomez, based purely on the strength that in its infancy Hasselbaink had told LUFC.com George Graham should head back to Portugal and sign his former strike partner from Boavista. However given his immense showing as a 35-year-old in a Blackburn shirt last month maybe our dear reader had a point! It is so easy to get carried away on the strength of one good game against us, on this basis we should have rushed out and broke the bank on Roy Wegerle, Karel Poborski and Attillo Lombardo.

I also pointed out that if Warnock could put aside the "Jamie Mackie" business then we should trust his judgement. I did voice concern over Diouf's tendency to attract trouble and strife in his extra-curricular activities, speaking as a horrified fan who watched his club explode and squander a potentially golden era when two of England's brightest football talents decided to go to a student disco in Leeds one cold January Tuesday night.

Diouf's hush hush arrival was leaked on Twitter and I'd imagine it was a 50/50 split amongst those who game to the Shrewsbury game whether they applauded or booed Diouf. For some it was the final act of betrayal, the signing of a reprehensible vile character and it was even an insult to ironically chant "Dirty Leeds" in his honour. The Square Ball mooted was it really worth sacrificing our soul for the sake of a couple of goals? It was a signing out of desperation and an indicator of how chronically bad the fiscal situation was at Elland Road.

By the end of August Diouf had impressed enough people for there to bevpublic calls for Leeds to convert his non-contract status to something more permanent. In the end, Diouf signed a deal reportedly worth £5k per week, making him one of the lowest paid at the club and cynics argued the paltry length of it, expiring in January was indication that he would be on his way to sunnier climes like Qatar or Dubai when midwinter is upon us.

Prior to yesterday's Barnsley game, I stood in a long queue waiting for my son Lucas's new Leeds shirt to be printed in time for his 13th birthday in just under teo weeks. I overheard a fellow customer ask the lass behind the hot press what name and number was the most popular at the moment. "Diouf 21" she replied without a doubt, pointing out Rodolph Austin was also very popular.

Quite a remarkable vote of faith from the fans given that according to his agent, Diouf may not be short of better offers in the New Year!

Inside the ground, the biggest cheer was reserved for when his name was read out during the announcement of the team sheet. The thunderous reception he got from the Kop when he took a corner and his response to the same fans who just over six months ago were urging Alex Bruce to "knock him out" was unbelievable.

After the game, I stood with my three sons waiting for autographs. As Messers Peltier and Kenny made it clear they had not set Sky+ to record the X-Factor, the cry of "There's Dioufy" went up. Suited and in sunglasses, the great man emerged from the Banqueting Suite and was mobbed by around 50 fans. Big, beery monsters turned into stars truck kids, "Dioufy sign this mate" brandishing their new shirts stretched over their flab. He was grabbed for photos, for saying how badly he reacted to being patted on the head at Celtic Park during that infamous UEFA Cup tie, he did not seem to mind being jostled in front of baited iPhones and smiled throughout. During the madness I managed to get a snap of Lucas and him (above) but it was anything but personal, everyone wanted a piece of Diouf.

Obviously I am too young to remember the glory years but I the nearest thing I have witnessed seeing over-grown men being entrapped by the presence of another man thus losing all social inhibitions is at Morrissey concerts!

A cameraman was on hand to capture these extra-ordinary scenes, a trio of Frenchmen conversed briefly in their native tongue with him, but his softly spoken English, responding to requests with "sure no problem!" ensured he will be a hero at Elland Road until Auld Lang Syne rings out at least.

Photo: Action Images

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