IN a career with so many highs and lows it makes a roller coaster look like a pancake, no two seasons sum up Gazza's fluctuating fortunes better than his last two at White Hart Lane.

In 1990-91 he was in his pomp, a true footballing genius who could win a game on his own.

But the following season, having suffered the horrendous injury that prematurely ended his FA Cup Final appearance against Nottingham Forest, he did not even kick a ball in anger as he spent a year getting fit ahead of his delayed move to Serie A with Rome giants Lazio.

Gascoigne had been an instant hit with Spurs after moving south from Newcastle United in the summer of 1988 for £2million. Terry Venables was the man who signed him, beating then plain old Alex Ferguson to the signature of the hottest property in English football.

Having just turned 21 he had the footballing world at his talented feet and his captain at White Hart Lane, former England defender Gary Mabbutt, was immediately convinced he would become a star.

Speaking from South Africa yesterday he admitted: "When Paul arrived we had a dressing room full of international players but he came in and wanted to make his quality known straight away.

"He certainly wasn't shy and he did raise a few eyebrows but you could see that quality straight away. He just loves the game of football and that came across from day one.

"The ability that he had was phenomenal. Alongside Glenn Hoddle he was the best player that I ever played with. Look through his career and the ability he has shown, I still believe he is one of the world's best players.

"But if it had not been for the injuries he has had I think we would be talking about the best player this country has EVER produced."

It was not long before that quality was attracting the attention of England boss and fellow Geordie Bobby Robson who soon called him into his national squad.

After two seasons with Spurs he burst to world promise at Italia 90 and it was on the back of those displays that he lit up the following domestic season.

Burnley team mate and former Spurs colleague Mitchell Thomas played alongside him in that glory, glory season and he recalled: "Gazza was on fire.

"He came back from Italia 90 where he had become a world star and he was in the best form of his life. He scored great goals and played some magical stuff."

Mabbutt was even more forthright as he claimed: "As far as it is possible for one man to single-handedly get a club to an FA Cup Final, Gazza did for us. He was absolutely magnificent that year.

"There are not actually that many players that I would pay to go and see but I would still pay to see Gazza."

After a solo display to score twice and knock out Portsmouth in an earlier round, It was at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final against North London rivals Arsenal that he peaked. He produced match winning display highlighted by a trademark free kick that will live long in the memories of all Spurs fans who had been living in the shadows of George Graham's Gunners.

"Gazza will always have a big space in the hearts of Spurs fans because they have been brought up to love outstanding footballers," said Mabbutt. "You don't see a talent like Paul Gascoigne very often."

If that semi-final was the high point of his Spurs career, a few weeks later came the few minutes of madness that were to have such a profound effect on his career.

The England star was playing his final game in English football before a big money move to Serie A giants Lazio.

But that switch had to be postponed after he injured himself badly in a tackle on Gary Charles that led to Stuart Pearce opening the scoring.

Gazza went on to pick up his winner's medal as Spurs recovered to triumph but a year after the tears of Turin for England it was another sad occasion for the talented player.

Plans for the dream move to the country where he had made his name just 12 months earlier were replaced by the realisation that he would be forced to spend his time in the treatment room in the hope of resurrecting his career.

It was a long 12 months but it was a battle that he finally won to enable him to leave London for Rome.

Gazza's manager during that year of frustration was Peter Shreeves, Terry Venables having left in the summer.

He recalled: "Every body loves Gazza. As they would say in the East End, he is a diamond geezer.

"For me it was very frustrating seeing a player of his talent around the club and knowing that I could not play him."

But if the frustration was great for the manager, it must have been even more so for the player.

"Despite the fact he was injured he still wanted to come down to the training ground every day, as well as doing his training under the physio John Sheridan," he said.

"I think the thing with Paul is that he has to have the craic, as the Irish would call it. He has to have the banter because he lives off that and so he would always be coming down to watch me take training.

"Being a Tottenham man I know how good he was the season before, he was absolutely irresistible. That year he was quite simply beating teams single handed.

"It was not just his skill it was his physical power, he was extraordinary.

"I think if you look back over the last 25 years at White Hart Lane you have got names like Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles and Gary Lineker. For me Paul Gascoigne is right up there on top of the pile.

"The one disappointment is that he could have been even better."

Mabbutt played alongside Gazza throughout his three seasons of action at White Hart Lane and he admits to feeling privileged to have seen him at first hand, not just in games but on the training ground.

And it was not just for his ability but for his character.

"I got on very, very well with Paul and I can still expect a call from him at 4am in the morning from time to time," he joked. "I have so many memories of what he got up to at Spurs, the character he brought into the dressing room.

"I will never, ever forget that run to the Cup Final in 1991 and it was a huge shame for him and for everyone that the final itself ended the way it did.

"Paul could always be a little bit quick to push the self destruct button and maybe that stopped him achieving all he could achieve.

"But make no mistake, when he was at Spurs he was absolutely world class!"