PER Pedersen completed his record £2.5 million move from Odense to Blackburn Rovers and declared: "I have never been happier!"

The 27-year-old striker will go straight into the Rovers squad for tomorrow's Premiership game against Liverpool at Anfield after signing a four and a half year contract.

He may have to wait for his first start in England - a place on the substitutes' bench looking the likliest option - but Pedersen won't worry about that.

After becoming Danish football's costliest export, he was not only delighted to get his chance in the Premiership but also clearly relieved that serious knee problems are now behind him after coming through hours of exhaustive medical tests.

"It's a dream come true after what I have been through with all the injuries," he said.

"I feel over the moon because now all the doctors say my knees are strong."

Pedersen has had major surgery on cruciate ligament problems but came through all the checks last night to get the go-ahead to complete a lucrative deal. He joins a strong Scandinavian contingent in England and fellow Danes Alan Neilsen (Spurs) and Marc Reiper (West Ham) were quick to put out the welcome mat.

Nielsen, who played alongside Pedersen when he scored the winner for Denmark against France, said: "He's a man who deserves to have such a contract because of what he has been through."

And Reiper added: "It must be a boost for the club too, because of the pressure of the managerial situation. It proves a player isn't afraid of going to Blackburn."

Pedersen will be joined in Blackburn by his 23-year-old girlfriend Anja Byrial Hansen, who is an international sports star in her own right.

She won Olympic gold with the Danish handball team but is prepared to give up her own career to be with him in England.

In fact, her only concern was that she hadn't packed enough clothes for Pedersen to be properly dressed for the signing!

Rovers' caretaker-boss Tony Parkes, however, won't worry about that as he seems certain to include the Dane in his 16 for Anfield.

Parkes could be without Lars Bohinen, who has been troubled by a back injury for more than a week.

It counted the Norwegian out of last Saturday's FA Cup squad and he could be missing again tomorrow. Rovers were also waiting for George Donis to report back from international duty today.

He was with the Greek team which drew 0-0 against Portugal.

It will be tough tomorrow against a Liverpool side who hammered Leeds in midweek.

Rovers' starting line-up is expected to come from: Flowers, Kenna, Berg, Hendry, Le Saux, Sherwood, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Gallacher, Sutton, Wilcox, Donis, Pedersen, Given.

Liverpool will probably be unchanged: James, McAteer, Kvarme, Wright, Matteo, Bjornebye, Barnes, McManaman, Redknapp, Fowler, Collymore.

Reports that Bobby Robson is on the verge of being axed by Barcelona are not likely to trigger any instant reaction at Ewood, despite Rovers' problems with the Sven Goran Eriksson saga.

It seems only a matter of time before Eriksson announces officially that he wants out of his Ewood contract and Rovers claim compensation.

But, when that eventually happens, I would expect them to look long-term for a boss and Robson is the wrong age, unless a short-term solution was required.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.