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Keegan confident £2m Sun can shine for City

Alan Nixon
Thursday 28 February 2002 01:00 GMT
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Manchester City have completed the signing of the Chinese defender Sun Jihai for £2m from Dalian Wanda. The 24-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and is expected to arrive at Maine Road in the next few days.

The Chinese international could make his debut next week when City have two away games, against Birmingham and Bradford. The former Crystal Palace player spent a week with the City squad before agreeing to the deal.

The City manager, Kevin Keegan, said: "I don't think it would be sensible to include him in the starting line-up on Sunday [against Coventry] as he needs a bit of time with us.

"This is a signing that again will need a week to 10 days to get adjusted. Flying between China and England is not easy but he will strengthen us and that is why we have bought him. He can play all the way along the back line and in midfield as well. We think that the right side is his strongest position."

The Sheffield Wednesday manager, Terry Yorath, has completed the signing of the West Ham United defender Anwar Uddin, after a successful two-week trial period at Hillsborough. The 20-year-old has joined until the end of the season.

Yorath hopes his latest signing will fulfil the promise shown in two reserve-team appearances. He said: "Anwar has come through the famous youth system at West Ham and is a very strong, physical player. We hope he will continue his progress here and develop into a first-team player for Sheffield Wednesday."

Uddin praised the staff who coached him during his seven years at Upton Park, saying: "I am proud that I was part of one of the most successful youth teams in the country. Now I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of me."

The Preston North End manager, Davie Moyes, wants the former Scotland captain Colin Hendry to assist in his promotion campaign. Moyes is trying to sign Hendry on loan from Bolton for the rest of the season to add strength to his young squad.

Sunderland have thwarted Hull City's bid to bring the striker Michael Reddy back to Boothferry Park on loan until the end of the season. The Black Cats have blocked the move as there are doubts over the fitness of the 24-year-old, who has been suffering from a hamstring problem.

Grimsby's on-loan striker Martin Pringle suffered a double fracture of his leg in a tackle by Stockport's Dave Challinor. Pringle, who joined the Mariners from Charlton last week, was taken off on a stretcher off after 52 minutes of the 3-1 win. Stockport's player-manager, Carlton Palmer, fined Challinor two weeks' wages for the tackle, which the referee, Mark Clattenburg, felt only deserved a yellow card.

* Sven-Goran Eriksson has selected pieces for a classical compilation to be released in April. "Sven-Goran Eriksson's Classical Favourites" will feature English, Swedish and Italian composers.

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