Peter Reid will try this week to sign 31-year-old Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma on loan until the end of the season with a view to a three-year deal.

The Sunderland boss has been tracking the £4m-rated Parma player for weeks and contact was made during the African Nations Cup, in which Mboma was top scorer with three goals, though he missed Cameroon's penalty shoot-out victory in the final against Senegal with a groin strain.

The injury is not believed to be serious and if the Italian club agree to the loan Reid would like to introduce Mboma to his new teammates this week.

Mboma has fallen out of favour with coach Pietro Carmignani at Parma, where he has played only six games in Serie A this season since his transfer from Cagliari, and has been told he can leave.

Sunderland want the big striker to prove he can adjust to Premiership football before giving him a long-term contract.

The much-travelled Mboma began his career in 1993 with French Division B side Chatearoux, where 17 goals in 29 appearances earned him a move to Paris St Germain. He scored once in eight matches before moving on loan to Metz, returning to the Paris club after four goals in 17 games.

Mboma then moved to Japanese club Gamba Osaka in the 1997-98 season and became a great crowd favourite, building up a reputation which attracted the attention of Italian club Cagliari.

Sunderland would have no problems in registering Mboma to play in the Premiership as he holds a French passport.

* Commemorative non-attendance tickets costing £10 each for Niall Quinn's charity match against the Republic of Ireland will go on sale tomorrow.

The Sunderland striker is hoping to raise £1m for children's hospitals in Sunderland and Dublin from the proceeds of the match on Tuesday, May 14 at the Stadium of Light. People who cannot attend are being given the opportunity to contribute to the appeal.

The non-attendance package includes a commemorative ticket and programme, which will be despatched after the game.

Non-attendance tickets can be bought by telephone on 0800 5877566 or by post to NQ Match Non Attend, c/o Barclays Bank, Contact Centre, Doxford Park, Sunderland SR7 3XW. Cheques should be made payable to Niall Quinn Charity Match.

Quinn is now looking for a printer to help the charity appeal by printing the non-attendance tickets free of charge.

Match tickets will be on priority sale to Sunderland season ticket holders until 5.30pm today.

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