SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid has decided against signing French trialist Cedric Bardon after running the rule over the 23-year-old Rennes striker during last week's three-match pre-season tour of Holland.

Bardon, who has been likened to French star Eric Cantona, was keen to join a Premiership club, but after earning himself a chance to prove himself in competitive action after a week's training on Wearside, failed to produce sufficient finishing power to win himself a £1m transfer.

Now Reid will turn his attention elsewhere in a bid to add a proven goalscorer to his first team squad.

The latest player to be linked with the Wearside club is Swedish striker Stefan Selakovic.

Born in Sweden to Bosnian parents, the 23-year-old has been in consistent goalscoring form for league leaders Halmstads BK, scoring six in the first eight games, and is expected to be called up into the Swedish senior squad before long.

Reid, however, has several other irons in the fire as he trawls the Continent for an accomplished finisher who can add to the goals he expects from his star striker, Kevin Phillips, who has set himself a 20 goal target in the new campaign following his table-topping 30 Premiership strikes last season.

So far this summer Reid has spent in the region of £7m on new players - exciting young Brazilian defender Julio Arca (£3.5m), Scottish international Don Hutchison (£2.5m) and Slovakian central defender Stanislav Varga (£650,000).

Phillips, meanwhile, is struggling to make Saturday's opening game against Arsenal in front of a record crowd at the extended Stadium of Light, which now has a capacity of 48,500.

Phillips, who is having intensive treatment on a mystery knee injury he woke up with on the club's pre-season programme in France, has been unable to play in any of the club's friendly games - his last outing was for England in Malta over two months ago.

But Reid will give his leading goalscorer as much time as possible, though the longer he misses training the less likelihood there is of him starting the season.

l There will be a live performance by Australian band S.i.A, including their Top Ten hit Taken For Granted, which features part of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights, which has become Sunderland's signature tune, before fireworks herald the new season at the Stadium of Light.

Outside the Metro FM Stan between 12 noon and 2.30pm there will be competitions for supporters aged 16 and under, with prizes for the best performances