Footballer Ben Sahar has changed the Hebrew spelling of his name after kabbalists told him it would make him a better player.

The Hapoel Tel Aviv star visited Israel's Ministry of Interior last week and changed the "s" in Sahar from the Hebrew letter samech to sin.

Rabbis in the Negev town of Netivot who specialise in kabbalah said Sahar in Hebrew with a samech was an anagram of the word heres (destruction).

Sahar spelt with a sin is 505 in the numerical equivalent of Hebrew letters. Five symbolises the hamsa, the hand amulet that offers protection against the evil eye, at both the beginning and end of the number.

Sahar's career has been in decline since he left Chelsea last year. He has only scored one goal this season and was dropped by the national team.

On Monday night Tel Aviv won - and he was restored to the Israel squad.