Millwall pull off coup by securing Spartak pair

ROB DORSETT

Millwall yesterday pulled off one of the transfer coup of the season, when they secured the services of two of the Russian internationals who put paid to Blackburn Rovers' hopes in the Champions' League. The striker Sergei Yuran and defender-cum-midfielder Vassili Kulkov have joined on loan for the remainder of the season, with the First Division club retaining an option to purchase the duo thereafter.

The internationals, who have played in every Spartak Mos-cow game this season, have mirrored each others' career paths exactly, through five years and four European clubs. An indicator of their ability is that, during their time there, every club they have played for has won a national championship.

Yuran, 26, scored the winning goal against Blackburn in this year's Champions League, having tormented the Arsenal defence when he played for Benfica in the European Cup four years ago. He has a fiancee living in London, while the 29-year-old Kulkov's wife and daughter are expected to arrive shortly.

"Obviously we have played for some of the great clubs in Europe but this is the pinnacle of our careers," Yuran said through an interpreter. "We have always wanted to play in England and didn't want to miss the opportunity."

The pair were recommended to Millwall by Bobby Robson, for whom they played at Porto last season. "Yuran is a dynamic player who will light up the place, while Kulkov is an excellent midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and a great passer," Robson said. "I wanted to sign them again this season but circumstances prevented it."

Millwall, who have slipped to 11th having led the division earlier in the season, will hope the signings, which mean they now have five foreign players, prove a turning point. "Their presence in the squad is bound to give supporters, players and everyone a lift," Mick McCarthy, the Millwall manager, said. The pair will be available for the visit of Port Vale a week today.

Peter Mead, the club's chairman, said talks with Spartak had been long- winded. "Dealing with the Russians was not easy and I can understand now why it took so long to secure international arms deals," he said.