NUNEZ SIGNS UP FOR NACIONAL SERVICE

Having failed to establish himself at Sunderland, Nunez began to look for a return to the Americas and settled on Nacional.

The Honduran international was desperate to maintain his fitness and keep himself in the international selector's eyes and a move to Nacional would fit that bill.

Speaking about the move, Nunez said: "I am going to make a very great economic sacrifice, but I accept it because I want to play and to recover my form."

Nunez's contract belongs to his agent, Pablo Bentacur, who only wants Nunez to sign a deal until January 2002, so that he can test the Mexican market with his client.

Bentacur said: "Tyson came to Nacional because he needs to retake his form, he must recover the joy that the English made him lose."

Nunez arrived in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo to offer his services, having endured a year in The Black Cats' reserves.

A bonus for Nacional is that Nunez will not take up one of their three foreigner positions, due to the fact he has returned to a former club, but has been away for more than six months.

Bentacur concluded that a last-minute attempt by Penarol to express their interest, with Jose Pedro Damiani, their president phoning him, had failed.

The agent said: "He (Damiani) did not want to obstruct the negotiations, but he said to me that if Nacional did not complete a deal, that he should consider Penarol."