Soccer: Coveny in sight of Knights

All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny is on the verge of joining the Knights in a two-year deal that would see him return to New Zealand club football for the first time in more than a decade.

The 34-year-old joined Melbourne in 1991 and played more than 300 NSL games with Melbourne and Wollongong before a stint with the Newcastle Jets in last season's A-League.

Knights manager Paul Nevin has said finding a strike combination is a priority and Coveny is high on his list.

"We've had some good conversations and hopefully we can get something sorted out soon," Coveny said before he flew out yesterday with the All Whites for their four-game European tour. "I'm excited about coming but there are a few things to iron out."

The striker is hoping to break the New Zealand scoring record on the All Whites' tour after being tied with Jock Newall on 28 since the Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide in July 2004.

Nevin has added former Fulham midfielder Malik Buari, a 22-year-old Ghanaian, to his squad, bringing the total number signed to 14. Buari played five first-team games for Fulham after making his debut in 2003.