Ligue 1 has witnessed a number of remarkable feats in recent history, not least Montpellier’s highly unlikely title win last season. But this year Le Championnat has witnessed something almost, if not more, unlikely than La Paillade’s success. In western France one previously forgotten figure, a perennial underdog in the harsh world of football having been billed as a potential star since he was 15, is finally enjoying his moment in the sun.

That player of course is Jeremie Aliadiere of FC Lorient, the architect behind Les Merlus’ impressive league form this season and their improbable run towards a potential appearance at the Stade de France in the Coupe de France. The player has enjoyed a year to remember with the Stade Moustoir, witnessing record levels entertainment as the site of the most Ligue 1 goals to date this season (currently 54). What is more impressive is that 15 of those have been scored by Aliadiere, a nomadic striker who is enjoying his first full season of injury-free football at the ripe old age of 30.

The former Arsenal man could complete an unlikely career revival this term if he, along with wily old coach Christian Gourcuff, can lead the ambitious Breton club to the promised land of European football and domestic cup glory. But before any of that, the sharks already appear to be circling with a host of British-based clubs (Newcastle – who else?) and Marseille reported to be keen on snapping up the former Chateauroux youth product. Aliadiere’s renaissance in Lorient could only last for a solitary season then, though the legacy he would leave behind if successful in either European qualification or domestic glory would be long-lived.

But this unlikely story could, and arguably should, become more far-fetched before the Frenchman bids farewell to the club that has revived his career. If Aliadiere were to make a move away from Lorient this summer, in his current form it would be incredible if he did not do so as a full French international. It would have been laughable, indeed downright folly, to suggest less than two years ago that Aliadiere was international material. Having never scored more than the five goals in the 29 appearances that he managed for Middlesbrough in his debut 2007/2008 season, nobody wanted to take a risk on player in his late 20s who had never played a full season because he was consistently crippled by injury.

The fact that he currently has 18 goals across all competitions and leads both France and Europe as the top scoring Frenchman across any league this season is astounding. If he maintains his current form, he will run Olivier Giroud’s impressive feat of 25 goals in all competitions with Montpellier last season very close. The Arsenal man has also provided nine assists but Aliadiere already has seven. That productivity propelled the Montpellier man into the plans of Les Bleus’ then coach Laurent Blanc ahead of Euro 2012, and although there is a considerable age gap (four years) between the pair, there is no reason why the Lorient sensation cannot do the same for Deschamps ahead of World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

France may currently be awash with talent lighting up a number of leagues across the continent, not least its own, as a wave of fantastic young talent has started coming through, but there remains a considerable dearth of talent at the sharpest end of the final third. Karim Benzema’s problems finding the net when wearing blue have been well documented, and while Giroud has fared admirably when called upon, there is little outstanding ability outside of the pair. Deschamps is starved of options unless he wants to blood more youngsters, as he did recently with Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba, but he is also running out of seasoned heads to call upon as he continues to ignore a revitalised Andre-Pierre Gignac.

To overlook an experienced striker in the form of his life with your options so severely limited is absolute lunacy. Yes he may be 30 with a poor injury history, but there is no reason to not give him a chance to prove himself on the international stage, even if it were just for one of the June friendlies against Uruguay or Brazil. Deschamps has championed players who, in his eyes, have character and reflect his working-class approach on the pitch, and it is that blue-collar approach that makes Aliadiere that much more appealing for France. The former Marseille coach and World and European champion as a player is looking for similar characters who will give everything for the cause and play as a team, a unit, something that Les Bleus have not demonstrated for some time.

The Lorient man has nothing left to lose, he has fought back from the brink and won, regardless of the outcome of this season in Brittany, and anything that comes now is a bonus. Deschamps too has little to lose in taking a chance on a player who has finally proven Arsene Wenger’s astute judge of talent correct, even if a little belatedly. President Loic Fery’s canny eye for business has snared an absolute bargain in Aliadiere who is delivering after Les Merlus kept their faith in him following a difficult first season back in Ligue 1. Thanks to his close friend Wenger’s advice, the Breton side gave the former Gunner a second chance and he is now firing on all cylinders.

It has been a fairy-tale year for Aliadiere, but all good things must come to an end eventually. That said, while he is on top form Deschamps could do worse than giving him a chance as he is still eligible to represent Algeria and recently expressed an interest in doing so. But don’t write Aliadiere off as a one-season wonder just yet, another season in Le Championnat, perhaps even remaining with his enterprising employers Lorient, could see this late talent blossom even further. Every dog has his day, so the old adage goes, and today is Aliadiere’s day.