LONDON, CMC:
JAMAICA REGGAE Boyz striker Ricardo Fuller could be in action for English Division One football club Preston North End from as early as Saturday, if he is given the all-clear following a medical examination on his troublesome knee in the United States.
Fuller flew to Colorado yesterday, as planned, to have his knee examined by Dr. Richard Steedman, but Preston North End boss Craig Brown has indicated that Fuller could be pressed into service depending on what happens in the United States.
FIT TO PLAY
"Fuller's away right now and if he doesn't require an operation then he is back in time for Saturday's game with Gillingham," remarked Brown on the club's website. "But if he does require an operation then he'll stay in America."
He added: "We know he's fit enough to play and, more importantly, we know that there will not be any further damage to his knee if he does continue to play, so we are not endangering his career.
"Even if he does have to have an operation and has to be ruled out for up to six months, then he will still be a PNE player and could return to push us into a position or keep us in a position to challenge at the end of the season."
SPECULATION RISING
With a number of scouts watching PNE's opening match of the season against Watford last Saturday, including Jim Smith, assistant manager at Portsmouth, the club that wanted to acquire Fuller before he failed a medical test, speculation has risen about another possible move for the Jamaican.
"The transfer deadline comes up quickly at the end of the month, but you can't transfer a player unless someone wants to buy him," Brown said.
PNE chairman Derek Shaw noted there were a lot of scouts watching last Saturday's 2-1 win over Watford in which Fuller had a solid performance, but "we've had no enquiries about Ricardo."
