Porto loan keeper to Lokomotiv

Former Russian international goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov has rejoined FC Lokomotiv Moscow in a loan deal from FC Porto.

'Porto own my rights'
"At the moment I'm a Lokomotiv player," Ovchinnikov was quoted as saying on Friday. "Porto still own my rights, but they have loaned me to Loko for the next six months."

Nigmatullin's replacement
The Russian Vysshaya Liga outfit signed the 31-year-old keeper as a replacement for Ruslan Nigmatullin, Russia's current No1, who was sold to Italian side Hellas-Verona FC last month.

Spell in Portugal
Ovchinnikov played for Lokomotiv from 1991 to 1997, when he was sold to SL Benfica. He joined the Lisbon club's Portuguese 1. Liga rivals Porto three years later, becoming their first choice stopper.

Substitute role
But this season Ovchinnikov had been relegated to the bench at the Das Antas stadium, where he still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.