Sunday 3 August 2014 15:48, UK
West Bromwich Albion's new signing Brown Ideye looks set to miss the start of the season because of delays in processing his visa and work permit.
The 25-year-old striker is the Baggies' record signing, after the club paid a fee in the region of £10million to bring him to the Hawthorns from Dynamo Kiev on a three-year deal.
But since signing the deal, the Nigeria international is yet to travel to England to train with his new team-mates, meaning West Brom's first game of the new season - against Sunderland on August 16 - is likely to come too soon.
Ideye has not been able to take part in any of Albion's pre-season friendlies, and is highly unlikely to be involved in Tuesday's game against Port Vale.
"Officials at the British High Commission [in Nigeria] are still working on it," said Ideye, who has scored five goals for Nigeria but missed out on a place in their squad for the 2014 World Cup.
"The club has fulfilled all the necessary requirements, but I have been told that the British High Commission require up to 15 days to sort this, which is preventing my ability to travel.
"The public holiday in Nigeria last week [Eid, the Muslim celebration to mark the end of Ramadan] slowed things down a little bit on this side.
"I hope to get it sorted in the next couple of days because I can't wait to join my new team-mates in England.
"I need to join the team first then train with the squad in front of the manager and so far I have not been able to do that."
Ideye scored 34 goals in three seasons with Dynamo and has played in the Champions League and Europa League.
Baggies boss Alan Irvine has admitted he has not seen Ideye play but insisted that "people we trust" had done so.
