SUNDERLAND'S defensive overhaul should be complete by the start of next week after Champions League winner Samuel Kuffour trained at the club's Academy of Light complex yesterday.

The Ghana international, who won one Champions League final with Bayern Munich and lost another to Manchester United, trained with the out-of-contract Ian Harte.

And with both players expected to undergo a medical on Wearside later today, Black Cats boss Roy Keane hopes to complete a notable double signing on Monday.

Kuffour arrived in England at the start of the week after Keane confirmed his desire to see him in action before committing to a long-term deal.

The 30-year-old, who was a member of the Ghana side that won the Under-17 World Championships in 1991, joined Bayern Munich as a 17-year-old in 1993.

He made more than 200 senior appearances in 11 seasons with the German giants, claiming six Bundesliga titles as well as his Champions League winners' medal.

He joined Italian side Roma in 2005 but, after failing to impress in his first season at the Stadio Olimpico, found himself farmed out to Serie A strugglers Livorno last season.

He still has one year of his current contract to run, but Roma officials have instructed him to seek alternative employers and confirmed their willingness to allow him to leave the Italian capital on a free transfer.

"We are having a look at them (Kuffour and Harte) and it's good for them to look at what we're doing here," said Keane. "But there's no chance of them signing before the weekend."

Kuffour would add considerable experience to a Sunderland defence that imploded during last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Wigan, and after signing a number of promising youngsters this summer, Keane is clearly prioritising the capture of some tried and tested defensive talent.

Harte certainly falls into that category, and the Black Cats boss is confident of finally signing the Republic of Ireland international after an initial approach was rebuffed last season.

Harte has spent the last three seasons playing for Spanish side Levante, but his contract was cancelled by mutual consent earlier this summer.

A number of clubs have approached the 29-year-old former Leeds full-back since he became a free agent, but Sunderland are the only club he has agreed to train with since returning to England.

"Hartey has been here since Tuesday," confirmed Keane, who is desperate to sign a left-back after fielding both Danny Collins and Ross Wallace in the position already this season.

"He has just had a free from his team in Spain and he's here for three or four days.

"His quality is there for everyone to see and he has settled in here. We'll monitor it and we'll probably have news within the next 48 hours, we're looking to make a decision.

"It's good for a player to come to the club and see what we're about, to see if he fancies it. Hartey's a good lad with a good personality."

Liverpool have confirmed that Steven Gerrard will miss tomorrow's game at the Stadium of Light. The Reds skipper, who also missed England's midweek defeat to Germany, is nursing a broken toe.