Metalurgs bring Rubins home

FC Spartak Moskva's Latvian international midfielder Andrejs Rubins has joined FHK Liepajas Metalurgs on loan for the next six months.

Blackpool interest
Rubins, who could make his debut against FK Riga on Saturday, has seen no league action with Spartak this season and had been linked with English club Blackpool FC, who are owned by Latvian entrepreneur Valerijs Belokons. However, Metalurgs have persuaded him to return home until the end of 2007.

National service
The 28-year-old remains an important player for Latvia, having scored eight goals in 86 internationals. He spent the 2006 campaign on loan at FC Shinnik Yaroslavl. Metalurgs are also expected to sign Spartak's 21-year-old striker Aleksandr Laktionov. Metalurgs drew 1-1 at home against Belarus's FC Dinamo Brest in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie. The second leg is on 2 August.