SAINTS have bolstered their crop of promising youngsters by snapping up the younger brother of Arsenal striker Luis Boa Morte.

Bruno Leal, an 18-year-old right-back from Sporting Lisbon, has signed a one-year professional contract to see if he can make the grade at The Dell.

The beaming youngster's first task was to charmingly explain the different surname from his famous older brother.

He laughed: "My parents have four surnames. Luis has two and I have two. My full name is Bruno Miguel Guardaloupe Leal which might be a bit of a mouthful. I think people will just call me Bruno.

"I spoke to my brother before I signed here and he said that Southampton are a good club who would be good for my future. He said I would like it here and so far he is right."

The youngster, who can also play centre-back, has come through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon representing them at every level up to under-18 and he has also played for the Portuguese Under-16 and Under-18 sides.

He is eligible for Saints Premier Youth League Under-19 team but it is hoped he will push quickly through into the reserves.

However, manager Dave Jones stressed: "He is one for the future, not for now. He is only a youngster but he comes very highly recommended by Terry Cooper, our European scout, and we feel it is worth having a look at him."

He speaks some English and will be helped to settle at The Dell by fellow Portuguese Under-18 inter-national Dani Rodrigues who said: "It is great for me to have a fellow countryman to speak my own language to and we can help each other.

"When I first came to England it was difficult for me and I did not know anything about the country but if Bruno does not know something then hopefully I can help him."

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Former Saints midfielder Ronnie Ekelund is having a week's trial with Division 1 Wolves. Still only 25, he is now a free agent under the Bosman ruling and is desperate to return to England.

Ekelund made a huge impact at The Dell under Alan Ball after signing on loan from Barcelona in September, 1994.

But a persistent back problem forced Southampton to reluctantly release him after he declined surgery.

He had brief unsuccessful trials with Manchester City and Coventry before signing for Danish Division 2 side OB Odense where he played virtually an entire season to prove his fitness. Saints are still waiting to hear whether Hull have completed the signing of reserve winger Mark Paul for a nominal fee.

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