SAM Allardyce counted in two new defenders today when he added the legendary Spaniard, Fernando Hierro, and the rising star of Israeli football, Tal Ben Haim, to his Premiership ranks.

Classy Brazilian, Julio Cesar, is expected to join them by the end of the week.

Hierro and Ben Haim are both awaiting international clearance but have signed one and three year contracts respectively and could make their Bolton bows in Sunday's Reebok friendly against Inter Milan.

Hierro, the 36-year-old former captain of Real Madrid, returns to Europe after a year in Qatar.

Describing the signing as "a major coup" for Wanderers, Allardyce said: "He is without doubt one of the biggest names in Spanish football. Many people in the game know him as a defender but he has played most of his career in midfield and we now have the flexibility of playing him in those two areas.

"In our negotiations, I was impressed with his professionalism and his attitude towards the English game. After a year in Qatar, he is desperate to make an impression again in mainstream European football. I firmly believe he can become a star in the English game."

In a 14-year career at the Bernabeu, Hierro won four La Liga championships, figured in three European Champions League triumphs and won 89 caps.

In contrast, 22-year-old Ben Haim is a novice. But the former Maccabi Tel Aviv star is rated one of Israel's most talented players. He has made 14 international appearances.

It was touch and go whether he would receive a work permit because he did not have the necessary international qualifications - a minimum of 15 caps and a 75 per cent appearance record over a 12-month period.

But a letter from the Israeli FA to the Department of Employment explained how he missed two internationals through suspension. When the two games were taken into account, he qualified with an appearance record of 83 per cent.

"Tal has all the attributes to make it in the Premiership," Allardyce added. "He is the biggest name to come out of Israeli football since Eyal Berkovic and is a household name in his homeland.

"For such a young man, he has a great deal of experience and will relish the prospect of progressing his career in the most physically demanding league in the world."

Wanderers have already agreed a one-year deal with Cesar, a former team-mate of Hierro and Ivan Campo at Real Madrid who has reached a settlement with his former club, Real Valladolid.

The formalities are expected to be completed in the next 48 hours.

The search for defensive reinforcements intensified last week when it was learned that Florent Laville had suffered a setback in his recovery from knee surgery.