New Saints signing Jo Tessem is looking backwards to this afternoon's game against Tottenham.

After completing a hush-hush rush to beat the deadline by less than five minutes, the £600,000 capture from Molde admitted his head is in a complete spin.

But he insisted he is ready to face Spurs if needed. With Jason Dodd ruled out by last week's knee operation, the 27-year-old utility player is in line to make his debut at right-back after a hectic dash.

He said: "My head is backwards at the moment! It has all happened so suddenly that it is a lot to take in. I came here to negotiate and to have a look around - and suddenly it is all done. I had not even thought about playing today.

"But I have told the manager that if he wants to use me, then I am ready. It is his gamble!"

Saints had a real sweat to get Tessem registered by noon yesterday. He flew in first thing in the morning, passed a medical and agreed personal terms before joining his new team-mates at training.

Club officials even had to overcome heart-stopping problems with a fax machine before they could begin to transmit the documents at 11.55.

Despite the rush to complete formalities, Tessem had no doubts about signing for Saints who have been tracking him since he shone against them in pre-season.

He added: "Everyone is very polite and friendly and it seems a good, well organised club. Everyone speaks very well of it and the players have made me very welcome.

"I don't know Claus Lundekvam or Trond Soltvedt but it will be good to have a couple of Norwegians here, especially at the start. That will make it easier for me to settle in.

"I knew Southampton had enquired about me after the pre-season friendly but Molde did not want to let me go while they were still in Europe. Then suddenly this week everything happened at once." Manager Dave Jones was desperate to keep the deal under wraps to guard against interest from rival clubs alerted by Tessem's impressive displays for Molde in the Champions League.

He said: "I think this is about the first player to come out of Norway who has not been splashed all over the papers! But I am delighted to get it sorted because it has been quite a struggle. It has taken three-and-a-half months to bring it together.

"We know we could not afford for it to leak out to give us a head start over anyone else. We have been after him since he did well against us in pre-season but Molde would not sell while they were in the champions League.

"We were worried in case they got through to the next phase but as soon as they went out we were back in for him and we got him registered with minutes to spare.

"He has had a very hectic 24 hours but if I think it is right to play him today then I will do it. Otherwise it will give someone else the chance to earn the shirt.

"He is quick, strong and good in the air. He is a very intelligent player who can play a variety of positions and that will put pressure on the centre-backs as well as down the right flank."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.