SAINTS will tomorrow unveil new signing Rudi Skacel.

After weeks of frustrating negotiations with Hearts, George Burley finally got his man when the deal was completed late tonight.

The goalscoring midfielder, who Burley signed for the Jambos last summer, will be paraded prior to tomorrow's Ted Bates Trophy friendly against Panathinaikos at St Mary's.

The 27-year-old Czech Republic international's arrival will be a massive boost to the fans and is sure to see an upsurge in season ticket sales.

Skacel was a massive hit at Hearts last season, scoring 16 goals in 33 Scottish League starts plus another two as a sub as the Tyncastle side claimed a Champions League spot and won the Scottish Cup.

He scored in each of Burley's first seven league games in a phenomenal first half of the Scottish season, but his form - and goals - tailed away after Christmas.

The Daily Echo first revealed last April that Burley was keen to link up again with Skacel, who has made Saints his fifth club since August 2003.

In that month he joined Marseille from Slavia Prague, only to move to Panathinaikos, ironically, for the whole of 2004/05 on loan.

Burley then snapped him up for Hearts 12 months ago.

The Jambos took the option to sign Skacel permanently at the end of last season, only for the player to say he wanted to quit the club with two years left on his contract.

Skacel subsequently refused to travel to Hearts' pre-season training camp in Austria.

Burley said of Skacel last summer: "He is an outstanding player.

"I believe that he is excited by the ambition that this club has shown."

"He's a versatile and strong lad with a good left foot. He's in his prime."

The arrivalof Skacel takes Burley's signings to SEVEN since 2005/06 closed.

Grzegoz Rasiak, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Marcelo Sarmiento, Jermaine Wright, Pele and Kelvin Davis had previously been brought on board.

While the Daily Echo understands trialist Mario Licka may be close to signing permanently, Burley will not be persuing his interest in Polish international Sebastian Mila.

The 24-year-old scored on his debut at Cheltenham but Burley will not be watching him again now Skacel and Licka are on board.

Mila played alongside Grzegorz Rasiak for Polish club Groclin three years ago and sat on the same bench as him for almost the whole of Poland's World Cup campaign in Germany.

While Rasiak managed five minutes action against Costa Rica in Poland's last game, Mila - who is currently out of favour with Austria Vienna - didn't play a single minute.