For someone who is studying counter-terrorism at university, it is perhaps fitting that Tyrone Mears must work out how to stop the most deadly player in Major League Soccer this weekend.

The English full-back has played a key role in helping the Seattle Sounders reach the MLS Cup final, where they will face Toronto FC - and their impressive playmaker Sebastian Giovinco - on Saturday evening.

Mears, the former Preston, Burnley and Bolton defender, will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Liam Ridgewell, who won the big prize in US soccer last season with the Portland Timbers.

And MLS Cup glory would cap a renaissance in Mears's career, having desperately struggled to recover from a broken leg while training with Bolton in 2011.

"It's a cup final and I've not played in many of those," the 33-year-old, who has been virtually an ever present during his two seasons at Seattle, told The Telegraph.

"I've been in two play-off finals which were a pretty big deal. When I was in the Premier League I didn't play for teams who were contending for the title. But it's a big deal here and I'm really looking forward to it.

"Giovinco is a great player - he could be in the Premier League right now. He's a big part of how they play and it's important that we try to shut him down and limit his opportunities.