Championship aim for relieved Rebrov

Sergei Rebrov is looking forward to concentrating on the rest of his career after ending his Tottenham nightmare by joining Fenerbahce. The 28-year-old signed an 18-month loan deal yesterday after passing a rigorous medical on Sunday, and the Turkish club have the option of signing him at the end of the loan period.

After months of trying to leave Tottenham, the Ukrainian striker said: "I am ready to take my place in the team. We will become champions at the end of the season for sure."

His arrival will come as a relief to coach Ogun Cetin following the acrimonious move of the Israeli Haim Revivo to rivals Galatasaray and the departure of the Croatia international Milan Rapaic.

Rebrov, who will wear the No 10 shirt vacated by Revivo, boosts a strike-force that includes the Argentinian Ariel Ortega and Russian Vladimir Beschastnykh, who recently moved from Spartak Moscow.

Turkey's league season restarts on Sunday with the spotlight on fourth-placed Fenerbahce who will try to close a six-point gap when they host leaders Besiktas.

Rebrov's reputation was forged in his partnership with Andrei Shevchenko when they combined in attack at Dynamo Kiev and in the Ukraine national team. He joined Spurs from Dynamo for a club record fee of £11m in summer 2000 and scored nine goals under the managership of George Graham in his first season.

Shevchenko's career has gone from strength to strength since his move to Milan in 1999 but Rebrov's has stalled in the Premiership.

When Glenn Hoddle replaced Graham, Rebrov found himself out of favour. "I am 100 per cent sure I would be a star in England," Rebrov said, "if it wasn't for my manager. I had a good first season, but Hoddle's appearance changed it all."

In November last year Rebrov, who has been capped 44 times for his country, asked the Ukraine head coach, Leonid Buryak, not to call him up until he was back in regular first-team action.

His move to Fenerbahce could herald his return to the squad in a friendly against Turkey on 12 February.