SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid took the advice of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson yesterday and paid £1.5m for Swedish international Joachim Bjorklund.

But he just missed the deadline for the former Glasgow Rangers defender to make his debut in tonight's derby against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

Reid was prepared to give the vastly experienced Bjorklund a baptism of fire against the Teessiders, but after the player completed medical formalities there was a hitch with the paperwork and the noon deadline for the transfer from Italian club Venezia was missed.

Now the 30-year-old veteran of 78 full internationals will have a seat in the stand as he watches his new side in action and will prepare himself for a Premiership debut against defending champions Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Reid took the opportunity of asking Eriksson about his fellow countryman when the England coach made arrangements to watch tonight's game, while he also sought the opinion of former Swedish skipper Stefan Schwarz, who played alongside Bjorklund many times at international level.

Reid said: "Stefan and Sven both had good things to say about him.

"He has always impressed me whenever I have watched him - he is quick, strong and a very good player. He is someone I know a lot about."

Reid decided to strengthen his squad following a second knee operation on his record £4.5m signing Emerson Thome, which could keep the Brazilian out of action for some time.

Reid said of Bjorklund: "He is a strong international-class defender who will give us the quality we need at the back and strengthen the squad, particularly while Emerson is out injured."

Bjorklund, who is expected to be a key defender in Sweden's World Cup squad, moved from Rangers to Valencia for £2.5m in 1998 and played in Spain for three years.

He then went to Italy in August last year for a fee of £1.5m and played 18 times for Venezia.

l Sunderland players launched their own official individual websites yesterday and invited fans to log on with any questions they might have.

Club captain Niall Quinn, whose domain name is www.niall-quinn.com, said: "Being one of the older players at the club the idea seemed strange at first.

"But the idea has grown on me and I give my full backing. I hope it proves to be very successful.

"The fans can put their questions to us. I think we have to be very honest with them and put some work into it. We want to be as adventurous as possible without stepping over the line."

The club has set up 29 websites for the players, each containing news, profiles, career statistics and screensavers.

Read more about Sunderland here.