MILLWALL gave their flagging promotion bid a major boost yesterday by signing Russian internationals Sergei Yuran and Vaseli Kulkov on loan until the end of the season.

The pair, who played together under former England boss Bobby Robson at Portuguese side Porto last season, both returned home to play for Spartak Moscow this term.

Striker Yuran, 26, has also played for Benfica, while 29 year old Kulkov is equally at home in defence and midfield.

But with economic problems besetting the whole of Russian life, even a club the size of Spartak, which has dominated the Russian game since the breakup of the Soviet Union, has proved unable to hold onto their players.

Millwall boss Mick McCarthy who clinched the deal after negotiations lasting three weeks, said: "I have been on the edge of my seat for the past month waiting for the players to sign."

Robson also gave his seal of approval, saying: "They are both excellent players who made a great contribution to our title push last year.

Yuran, who tormented Arsenal while with Benfica in the 1991-92 European Cup, repealed the dose against Blackburn at Ewood Park in September, capitalising on a mistake by Tim Flowers to score the only goal of the game.

He was also prominent as Rovers were crushed 3-0 in the Luzhniki Stadium return in November, with Kulkov also impressing in both games as Spartak completed their 100 per cent passage through Champions' League Group B.