Da Silva 'en route' to Wearside

Sunderland new boy Paulo da Silva has been given the green light to arrive in England. The Wearsiders announced the capture of the Paraguay international from Mexican side Toluca last month but had to wait for the 28-year-old to be granted a visa. The paperwork has now been completed and the central defender will arrive in the country ahead of Sunderland's Premier League opener at Bolton on Saturday. Assistant manager Eric Black told the club's official website: "Paulo's work permit is sorted, his visa, his flights - you name it. "He's en route as we speak and it will be great to have him here. "We will have to see where he is physically as we've not seen him for six weeks, but it's more competition for places."