| The Trinidad and Tobago attacker’s application for a new permit has gone to a Government tribunal because he has not made the necessary number of international appearances to automatically have the right to stay in the SPL.
Bizarrely, that was partly because former Trinidad boss Bertile St Clair did not approve of his hairstyle, but, with new manager Leo Beenhakker now in charge, the player has returned to the fold — hence his absence today.
Along with Tannadice team-mate Collin Samuel, he is with his national squad in Miami preparing for the Gold Cup, an event that could keep them away until just before the start of the new season next month.
“This is my first time at one of these tribunals, so I do not know exactly how long it will take, but I am hopeful things will go smoothly and Jason will get his permit,” said Gordon, as he headed for the meeting at the national stadium.
“He is an international player, which we can show just by the fact he is not here right now but away in Miami with his country.”
As well as Scotland and Samuel, two other internationals will be missing when the first-team squad start pre-season work tomorrow.
New signing Lee Miller and defender Mark Wilson have been given an extra week off because their involvement with Scotland squads ran into the middle of this month.
Joining in for at least part of the work will be defender Lee Mair, who has been out since early in the year with a knee ligament injury.
“With Lee, it’s going to be a case of building him up to the start of the season, but we will not throw him in at the deep end,” explained Gordon. “He’ll join in at the start of the session and we’ll monitor him closely and pull him out if we feel he is doing too much.”
Meanwhile, the scheme allowing fans to donate cash towards buying season tickets for under-privileged children could lead to a sizeable number of briefs being handed over. In just two days, £1500 has been donated via the club’s website and United have pledged to match the final total with a donation of their own. |
