ARGENTINIAN club side San Lorenzo will use this month's Copa America to run the rule over Sunderland misfit Nicolas Medina.

The Buenos Aires based outfit are ready to end the midfielder's Wearside nightmare if he can prove he has recaptured the form that made him one of Argentinian football's hottest properties at the turn of the century.

Medina has made just one senior appearance for Sunderland since his £3.5m move from Argentinos Juniors in 2001.

But that has not stopped him forcing his way into the full Argentinian squad for the prestigious South American tournament that gets underway in Peru next week.

Medina was the shock inclusion in the 23-man party unveiled by Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa yesterday.

The 22-year-old might be a forgotten man on Wearside, but he is still highly regarded in his homeland thanks to a successful youth career that culminated in a medal-winning performance at 2001's World Youth Championship.

A number of Argentinian sides have been monitoring Medina's troubles at Sunderland, but South American sources suggest San Lorenzo are prepared to lodge a formal offer with the Black Cats if Medina proves his physical and mental well-being this month.

San Lorenzo are one of Buenos Aires' 'big five', but they have fallen on hard times this season and currently lie six places above the foot of the Argentinian top-flight.

Their troubles worsened last month when former Newcastle striker Daniel Cordone was banned for two years after failing a drugs test for the second time this season.

Medina would jump at the chance of resurrecting his career in his homeland but, while Sunderland would not stand in his way, financial issues could yet scupper any deal.

Argentinian football is virtually penniless and San Lorenzo would struggle to pay any fee for the midfielder.

They would also be unable to match Medina's current pay packet that makes him one of the highest earners on Sunderland's books.

The South American signed a mammoth five-year deal when he arrived on Wearside and, with two years of that contract still to run, it is unlikely he would be willing to move without some compensation.

His Sunderland career was all but at an end when the club loaned him out to Spanish second division side Leganes last season and, while Mick McCarthy is unwilling to publicly rule him out, it is unlikely he will ever play in red and white again.

In an ideal world, Sunderland would like to wash their hands of one of Peter Reid's most controversial acquisitions.

But they would be unlikely to turn down the offer of another year-long loan deal for the youngster.

l Argentina are in Group C of the Copa America alongside Ecuador, Uruguay and Mexico.

The tournament starts on Tuesday, and Argentina kick off their campaign the following day against Ecuador.

l Keeper Chris Kirkland has set himself a dual aim for next season - winning back his first-team place at Liverpool and then putting pressure on David James for the England number one spot.

Kirkland would have been part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's plans for this summer's Euro 2004 finals if he had not been ruled out of contention with a broken wrist.

The England coach has been keen to include Kirkland in his squad for some time and the promising keeper is likely to put considerable pressure on James' place ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals.

Indeed, Eriksson has already indicated that, if fit, Kirkland could play some part in England's next friendly against Ukraine at the start of next season in August.

The Liverpool keeper's first priority, however, is to regain full fitness and then impress new manager Rafael Benitez.

He declared: ''I'm really positive. This is it. The next two years are really big years for me, so I can't wait to get back.

''I started training on Monday and just did a bit of light stuff but I'm feeling really good.

''When a new manager comes in, nobody is guaranteed a place. So everyone's going to be out to make the right impression before the first game of the season.

''He wants to bring success to Liverpool Football Club and I'm sure that will go down very well with the players and the fans.''

As for his England ambitions, the 24-year-old goalkeeper said: ''First of all, I've got to get into the Liverpool team and that's going to be hard. ''Jerzy Dudek is a fantastic keeper and it's going to be really hard to try and displace him, but I'll give it my best shot.