SUNDERLAND are to run the rule over £2m-rated Swedish international Anders Svensson this week.

The 24-year-old midfielder, voted Player of the Year in Sweden after scoring ten goals for his club, Elfsborg, is due to fly to the North-East to enable Wearsiders' boss Peter Reid to watch him in action.

Svensson comes highly recommended - and Reid has been given a glowing reference by his Swedish international, Stefan Schwarz, who has just resumed competitive play after recovering from a long-term ankle injury.

Svensson is thrilled by the prospect of linking up with a Premiership club.

He said: "I have spoken to Peter Reid on the phone and he said that he wanted me to come and meet him and the players and to have a look at the Stadium of Light. It will be exciting for me to do that."

Svensson's agent, Fredrick Johnson, has opened negotiations with Sunderland and has arranged for the player to travel over from Scandinavia.

He said: "As I understand it Sunderland are looking for an attacking midfielder.

"They want Anders to get familiar with the club before we start discussing a contract."

Several top clubs are believed to have been checking on Svensson, who has just broken into the Swedish team and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in his country.

Sunderland could find themselves with a surplus of midfield players if they decide to pursue their interest in the Swede.

There is already considerable pressure for places, with £2.5m Scottish international Don Hutchison, £1m Scotland B player Alex Rae, England Under-21 man Darren Williams and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane currently occupying the midfield positions.

But £3.5m Argentinian Julio Arca, who came on as substitute at Newcastle, will soon be joined by Schwarz and last season's Young Player of the Year, Gavin McCann, in the challenge for first team places in the midfield.

Reid, however, is a great believer in competition for places, and with money at his disposal, he is determined to improve his squad as the club tries to win a place in Europe.

l Leeds manager David O'Leary last night urged his players to come out fighting for their Champions League lives after being backed into a corner by an unrelenting crisis which has taken a stranglehold on the club's season.

O'Leary again finds United's hopes of glory against the might of Real Madrid tonight in the opening Group D game of the second phase at the mercy of injury and suspension problems.

Real's Brazil defender Roberto Carlos has promised the reigning kings of the Champions League will inflict similar damage on Leeds as they did on Manchester United last season.

On that occasion the Spanish giants romped into a 3-0 lead in the second leg of their quarter final to silence the 60,000 inside Old Trafford, before easing up, albeit running out comfortable 3-2 winners.

Real now face a ''tired'' Leeds team which is lacking in ''sparkle'' following a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday, with O'Leary fearing he will be unable to raise the spirits of his side on this occasion.

To add to Harry Kewell, David Batty, Stephen McPhail, Nigel Martyn, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Duberry and Michael Bridges in the treatment room are Danny Hay and Eirik Bakke, the latter with a calf strain sustained against the Hammers.

Also sidelined is £7.2m record signing Olivier Dacourt as he is suspended, leaving O'Leary with a gaping hole in midfield, which could prompt the return of Jason Wilcox.

The winger played 90 minutes in the reserves last week after spending the previous six months out following a double knee operation, before breaking an ankle in a freak training-ground accident.

But O'Leary is determined whoever plays will not let down the club or the fans as he said: ''I've always feared Real Madrid - I fear most teams. It goes without saying this is the biggest game yet because teams don't come any bigger than Real Madrid given their tradition.

''I was at the game last year at Old Trafford and they were magnificent. I went along, probably like Manchester United did, thinking they were going to beat Real Madrid. But they were outstanding.

''Their record speaks for itself, and it shows the power and the quality of the club when they signed Luis Figo from Barcelona for £37m.'