BLACKBURN Rovers boss Graeme Souness was a happy man last night.

Firstly, he was all smiles after completing the protracted signing of Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, then he watched his side beat Tennengau Auswahl 9-0 in Austria in their first pre-season match.

Souness said: "Dwight has jetted off to join up with us on our tour.

"Yorke is a top player, and it is a top signing for the club, I have no doubt he will do well."

Yorke is set to make his debut in a Rovers shirt on Tuesday evening when Souness' side take on FC Nuremburg in Weisman.

Souness has recreated what was once the most feared striking partnership in Europe when he signed Yorke for a cut-price £2million from Manchester United.

Yorke and Andy Cole scored 53 goals between them as United won an historic treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup in Yorke's first season at Old Trafford.

Although Yorke, who scored 29 goals that season, never quite hit those heights again, he did manage to top 20 Premiership goals the following season.

And Souness obviously hopes his new signing can recapture that sort of form.

He said: "Dwight is a player of the highest quality with a proven record, who I have targeted for some time.

"He can only be an asset for us as we look to move forward."

Yorke's relationship with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson soured and he found himself relegated from first to fourth in the strikers' pecking order at Old Trafford.

Last season was best forgotten and he had not featured for United since coming on as a late substitute against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in January.

The former Trinidad and Tobago international had fallen right out of favour after his refusal to join Middlesbrough in January scuppered United's move for Paolo di Canio.

However, Yorke says he is desperate to re-establish himself as one of the best strikers in the Premiership.

He is thrilled by the transfer and the prospect of reforming his old partnership with Cole at Ewood Park.

Yorke, who scored 66 goals in 152 appearances for United, said: "I can't tell you how delighted I am to sign for Blackburn and to get this great opportunity.

"I'm desperate to re-establish myself in the Premiership and there's a passion and hunger to do well."

Yorke, 30, has agreed a three-year deal with Blackburn and the fee could rise to £2.6million depending on appearances and how well Rovers do.

Even if Rovers do eventually fork out another £600,000 to United, Souness has no doubts that the transfer will still represent a very good piece of business.

He had been after Yorke for months, but the deal had stalled on United's refusal to lower their asking price.

The Reds finally decided to cut their losses on Yorke, who cost them a then club record £12.6million from Aston Villa in August 1998, and accept Rovers' offer.