RAFA Benitez, the man who sanctioned Salva Ballesta's loan move to the Reebok, says the Spanish striker has the desire to score the goals that will keep Wanderers in the Premiership.

Benitez, coach of Spanish champions Valencia, has refuted claims of a bust-up with the 27-year-old player and insists: "His departure is a technical decision and not a personal one.

"The decision is positive for him. He has the desire to score many goals and he does that well. Because he is our player we will do our best for him."

Seville-born Salva, who secured a place in Spain's squad for the European Championships with a 25-goal season at Racing Santander, joined Valencia from Atletico Madrid for £7.2million in July 2001. He won a championship medal last year but has failed to gain a regular first team place this season. His last appearance in La Liga was in September, since when he has lost his place in the pecking order to John Carew, Miguel Mista and Juan Sanchez.

His last appearance in a Valencia shirt was in the 3-0 defeat of Spartak Moscow in the Champions League in November but his lack of games did not prevent him attracting offers from a host of clubs in Spain and abroad.

Ironically, having arrived at the Reebok on Friday along with loan duo Pierre-Yves Andre, the striker from Nantes, and Florent Laville, the Lyon defender, Salva is expected to make his debut at West Brom - one of the teams he rejected.

Sam Allardyce, who originally feared he might have been priced out of the deal, describes the twice-capped Spain international as "a hold-up player who thrives on crosses" and has hinted he could use Salva and Andre in a twin strike role.

But it will be match fitness - none of the three new signings has played first team football in recent weeks - that dictates how they will be integrated into the side.

Mixed messages are coming out of Celtic Park, where former Sunderland centre-back Stanislav Varga is on trial.

The player's agent continues to insist that the Slovakian international, a free agent, will sign for Wanderers by the end of this week while Varga has revealed his fellow countryman and former Parkhead hero Lubomir Moravcik has convinced him his future lies in Glasgow.

Allardyce is a long-time admirer of the player but, apart from struggling to finance the deal, the manager fears there could be work permit problems.