Kanchelskis wins Saints contract

Southampton have completed the signing of former Manchester United and Everton winger Andrei Kanchelskis.

The Russian international will stay at St Mary’s until the end of the season after impressing manager Gordon Strachan over the past 12 days.

Kanchelskis had been training with Saints to stay fit after being released by Rangers.

Strachan told the club’s official website, www.saintsfc.co.uk: “He brings experience to the squad. He has played with some of the world’s best players with Russia and Manchester United.

“He has a great attitude and a good appetite for the game. He just wants to play and the other players look up to him.

“I like the fact that he phoned me personally to ask if he could train here. He did not get an agent to do it and he tried three or four times before he got me.

“He has looked good in training and a one-year deal gets him settled. If things go better then that, fine. If the club is successful he will be rewarded.”

Kanchelskis is the second player to put pen to paper on a Saints contract today after former England Under-21 left-back Marcus Hall also agreed a one-year deal.

Hall had been on a game-by-game arrangement with Nottingham Forest after turning down a contract at Coventry at the end of last season.

Former Dynamo Kiev midfielder Kanchelskis first came to England in 1991 when signed by United boss Alex Ferguson from Shakhtar Donetsk.

He went on to play a key role in United’s championship win in 1993 and their double success of 1994 before moving to Everton for £5million a year later.

From there he moved on to Fiorentina and Rangers and also spent a spell on loan at Manchester City.

Strachan admits the 33-year-old may no longer be as devastating as he was a decade ago but still believes he can do a good job in the Premiership this season.

He added: “He does no have the incredible burst of pace but he has good stamina and a change of pace and he can still score goals.”

The deal was completed ahead of tomorrow’s transfer deadline but was too late to allow him to play at Tottenham this weekend.