Republic of Ireland defender Ian Harte completed a move to Sunderland yesterday after agreeing a one-year-deal with Roy Keane's side. The manager has also added Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones to his squad.

Jones's arrival could spell trouble for Irish strikers Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, David Connolly and Roy O'Donovan - all of whom could be pushed down the pecking order as the new £6 million arrival is expected to partner fellow newcomer Michael Chopra in attack.

"He's a big strong boy who is quick and athletic too. He has a real physical presence and is the type of player we've been missing," said Keane.

Harte became a free agent after his contract with Spanish club Levante was terminated by mutual consent earlier this month. He has been training with Sunderland for the past nine days and could play some part in a reserve game against Newcastle tomorrow.

The 29-year-old is gunning to edge Ross Wallace and Danny Collins for the first-team left-back berth but whether he features against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening remains to be seen.

"I've played alongside Ian and I know the qualities he can bring to our club," said Keane. "You need a big squad in the Premier League and he will add strength to ours."

Keane certainly is assembling a "big squad" as Harte was the manager's 10th signing this summer, although Higginbotham and Jones now make it 12 new faces at the Stadium of Light having secured their transfers late this evening.

Versatile defender Higginbotham joins from Stoke for a £3million fee while want-away Southampton striker Jones moves north with Sunderland's Stern John moving the other way to St Mary's.  Both players have signed four-year deals.

"I was sorry to see Kenwyne go but the player made it clear that he didn't want to stay here and Sunderland came in with a very good offer," said Southampton manager George Burley.

Harte spent nine years with Leeds and he left for Spain upon their relegation from the Premier League in 2004. But the Drogheda man, who had one year left on his Levante deal, was hit by a succession of injuries during his time in Spain and made just 66 league appearances in three seasons.

A lack of opportunities last season in particular proved very frustrating and he was determined to secure a move back to Britain where a number of clubs, including Celtic, had expressed interest.

"It's great to be back in the Premier League and I'm raring to go," said Harte. "I want to get playing as soon as possible. This is a good opportunity for me at a massive club like Sunderland and there are plenty of Irish lads here to make me feel welcome."

He joins compatriots Stokes, Murphy, Connolly, O'Donovan, Paul McShane, Liam Miller, Graham Kavanagh, Clive Clarke (on loan at Leicester) and at the Stadium of Light.

Owing to injury and the subsequent lack of game-time at the Valencia-based club , Harte has been omitted from Steve Staunton's recent Republic of Ireland squads. He will use this move to bolster his chances of featuring in the closing games of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign - although he is not selected for the upcoming Slovakia and Czech Republic games.

Keane, meanwhile, must plan without his captain Dean Whitehead for at least six months because of a cruciate knee injury.  The 25-year-old midfielder suffered the problem on the eve of his side's Premier League defeat at Wigan and it was initially thought he would only be out for six weeks.

But Keane, speaking after Tuesday night's 3-0 Carling Cup defeat to Luton, said his captain would now require surgery..
"It looks like it's a cruciate so that would rule him out for six or seven months. It's been a bad day. It's a bitter blow for Deano and for us. We are missing his leadership qualities and his presence."