TOWERING Tore Andre Flo last night revealed how a call to Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna helped clinch his club record move to Wearside.

Norway striker Flo played alongside Reyna at Rangers for almost a year before the United States World Cup skipper switched to the Stadium of Light last December, in what was then a record-equalling £4.5m deal for the Black Cats.

And 6ft 5in Flo, whose undisclosed fee eclipses that, admitted: "Claudio told me positive things about Sunderland.

"He likes it here. I spoke to him on the phone before joining and he gave me a glowing report. That helped me make up my mind to come here.''

Flo joined Rangers in November 2000 when he moved from Chelsea for £12m, and was initially loath to leave Ibrox.

But he believes he was sacrificed on the altar of expediency by manager Alex McLeish for financial reasons. "I first heard about Sunderland's interest a couple of weeks ago,'' he said. I loved Rangers and being in Glasgow.

"I had a good time, but it didn't work out maybe the way we all wanted.

"I scored 38 goals in 60 games which wasn't bad, but I could have done better, I know that.

"I think me leaving was a financial thing because clubs are struggling a bit at the moment.''

Flo, however, is delighted to be back in the Premiership and is today seeking at least one hat-trick when he makes his bow at home to Manchester United.

At his two previous British clubs, Flo scored on his debut. He recalled: "I scored on my debut for Rangers against Celtic and I scored on my debut for Chelsea against Coventry, so I would like to do it again.

"I scored two goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford the last time I was there, but I didn't score any against them before that.

"It's great to be back in the Premiership - it's the best league in the world. I am confident I can do for Sunderland what I did for Chelsea.

"At Chelsea, I was in and out of the side but we had four or five world stars when I was there, so I was happy to play as much as I did.

"We had Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Hughes and Eidur Gudjohnsen, and you couldn't expect to play every week.

"It was one of the reasons I left Chelsea. But I don't think I have anything to prove. I just want to play excellent football every week for myself and for the fans here.''

Flo is looking forward to linking up with Sunderland's scoring phenomenon Kevin Phillips, who has found goals harder to come by in recent times when without injury-racked frontline foil Niall Quinn.

"I admire Kevin Phillips,'' said Flo. "He's a great goalscorer and a very good player. It'll be great to form a partnership with him.''

Sunderland manager Peter Reid has made it clear that the signing of striker Marcus Stewart from First Division Ipswich will increase the pressure on Phillips to reproduce his old form.

Stewart, who had been lined up for a move to West Ham, was yesterday unveiled along with fellow 29-year-old Flo, and said: "I'm not only looking forward to playing alongside Kevin Phillips, but also the likes of Claudio Reyna and Thomas Sorensen. They've got a great squad here. Peter Reid didn't need to convince me to come to Sunderland. I've played here a couple of times for Ipswich and I know what the fans are like here.

"It can be very intimidating, so I'm glad I'm on the right side now!''

Reid, buoyed by Wednesday's shock 1-0 win at Leeds, is now relishing the challenge of facing Manchester United. "With the result we got on Wednesday, the place has been buzzing and these two lads will add to that,'' said Reid.

"The win at Leeds has lifted the place and games against Man. United are what football is all about at this level. It's going to be very difficult, but we can go out there with all the confidence in the world.''

Read more about Sunderland here.