SPANISH striker Yordi could be handed a baptism of fire in English football after being cleared to play in Sunday's Worthington Cup final against Spurs.

But red tape has deprived Rovers of the services of Turkish international Hakan Unsal.

Blackburn Rovers chief executive confirmed this morning: "We have completed the deal with Real Zaragoza for Yordi.

"He has signed on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy in the summer and he can play on Sunday."

The 27-year-old striker will go straight into the squad for the final and will be competing for a place alongside Andy Cole in the attack.

Yordi flew into Lancashire yesterday to begin talks and his agent Navarro said: "Yordi knew he didn't have a chance of playing even a minute at Zaragoza so he is really happy to have found this solution.

"He really likes English football and wants to help Blackburn to get out of their difficult situation.

"He will play at Blackburn on loan until June 30 and Zaragoza are keen to include an option which entitles the English club to buy him after that.

"But Yordi is just thinking about staying there for three months and then see if he has settled or not."

Rovers manager Graeme Souness admitted he is keen to sign the centre-forward.

"I would describe him as an 'English-style' striker," he said and he is delighted that the deal had been completed so swiftly ahead of the big game.

A former youth player at Seville, Yordi made his senior debut for Atletico Madrid before joining Zaragoza in 1997. He has scored six goals in 18 appearances this season and is the club's top scorer.