SAINTS fans could get their first glimpse of new Brazilian loan signing Guilherme do Prado in tonight’s Carling Cup tie against Bolton.

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder completed his switch to St Mary’s yesterday from newly-promoted Italian top-flight side Cesena.

Do Prado, who will wear the number 11 shirt with his nickname Guly on the back, has joined Saints on an initial five-month loan deal.

Saints have the option to make that permanent in January.

All the paperwork for the deal has been approved by the Football League.

But Saints are still waiting on international clearance from the Italian FA.

They hope that will come through in time for do Prado to make his first Saints appearance against the Trotters at St Mary’s tonight.

The capture of do Prado, pictured below, is something of a coup for Saints, who tempted him to St Mary’s despite interest from a number of Italian sides.

Serie A sides AS Roma and Chievo and second tier side Torino were all linked with the player this summer after he impressed with nine goals in 34 games last season to help Cesena to promotion as Serie B runners-up.

But Sao Paulo-born do Prado, who revealed he has always wanted to play in England, said he was Saints-bound as soon as he heard they wanted to sign him.

The midfielder, who was in the stands at St Mary’s on Saturday to watch Saints’ 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient, told the club’s website: “I was looking forward to what was going to be a very exciting season playing in Serie A, and although there was interest in me from other Serie A clubs, as soon as I heard Southampton were interested I knew that I had to come here.

“I have always wanted to play in England and at the highest possible level.

”The chairman sold me his vision for where this club is going and I wanted to be a part of that and help take this club through the divisions.”

Saints manager Alan Pardew confirmed to the club’s website: “If his clearance comes he will definitely play a part.

“If we have paying public who would like to have a first look at him that could well be tomorrow night and he will play some part if his clearance comes through. We are touch and go on that.”

Elsewhere, Pardew has vowed to field a “strong” side against Owen Coyle’s men.

Asked what sort of Saints side will meet Bolton, Pardew added: “A strong team because I feel that we need to establish ourselves as a winning unit and winning team.

“We have won one, lost one and drawn one and for us that is not a good record.

“I don’t care who the opposition are.”