Cole moves to Black Cats

Andy Cole has completed a move to Sunderland after signing a one-year deal.

The 35-year-old left Portsmouth this summer after manager Harry Redknapp agreed to cancel the final two years of his contract. Although Cole will not be involved in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match with Liverpool, he is eager to take up his new challenge with the Black Cats.

He told the club's official website: "I'm very excited to be here. It is another challenge and hopefully I can use my experience to help the young players at the club. I had a few options and I just thought this is a good one. I want to get a good week or 10 days' training under my belt and go from there."

the chance

The Black Cats head for Luton in the Carling Cup second round on Tuesday night and then for Old Trafford in the league next weekend, handing Cole the chance of an emotional return to former club Manchester United.

In his time at Old Trafford, Cole collected five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League winners' medal. Cole has 188 Premier League goals to his name, second only to Alan Shearer.

Sunderland manager and former United team-mate Roy Keane said: "He has had a fair few clubs, but I have played with Andy and been in the same dressing room and I know he likes to win.

"He is someone I have always got on all right with - it might be different now I am a manager, that might change. But a player with Andy's history - you look at his goals record and his experience, and he is someone we had to consider."