Sukur to add fire to Rovers' attack

TURKISH World Cup striker Hakan Sukur can bring a new dimension to Blackburn’s attack, according to manager Graeme Souness.

Rovers yesterday completed the formalities of a deal to bring the 31-year-old free agent to Ewood Park until the end of the season.

Sukur was released from his contract with Italian side Parma, and so Rovers will not have to shell out a fee for a player Souness believes can have a major impact on the Barclaycard Premiership.

‘‘I am delighted Hakan is joining us,’’ said former Galatasaray boss Souness. ‘‘I know what he is capable of, having worked with him before.

‘‘He is a natural athlete and will provide us with something different. He is carrying a slight injury at the moment, but that has been taken into account and we are confident he will strengthen our squad.’’

Rovers will welcome the addition of another striking option while Matt Jansen continues his return to fitness following a traffic accident during the summer - leaving the need for someone else to take the pressure off first-choice pairing Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole.

Souness believes the Turkish international, who netted the fastest World Cup finals goal of all time in the Far East last summer, will be a handful when he eventually makes his debut: ‘‘He’s 6ft 2in but he’s not a big lump of a striker who will fight and knock centre-halves over. He’s someone who will run centre-halves into the ground with his movement; his touch and control is very good, and he does get his fair share of headed goals.

‘‘So he’s something a bit different to what we already have.’’

Despite no longer being the threat he once was, Sukur will bring a wealth of experience to Blackburn. Most of his best displays have come for Galatasaray, where his goals helped the Istanbul club to both domestic cup and league success.

In 2000 he scored in both legs as Galatasaray beat Leeds en route to their UEFA Cup triumph over Arsenal in Copenhagen. He also found the net twice as Turkey beat co-hosts Belgium at Euro 2000 to qualify for the second phase of a major international tournament for the first time.

A big-money move to Italian giants Inter followed, but Sukur could not break into the first team and soon left for Parma. While he continued to net regularly for his country as Turkey qualified for the 2002 World Cup, Sukur endured a barren spell in Serie A which ultimately saw him released in March.

Sukur, who has a groin injury, will be familiar with several faces at Ewood Park. As well as Souness, coaches Phil Boersma and Dean Saunders both had spells at Galatasaray, along with players Tugay and Brad Friedel.