Passport issue leaves McCall's plans tied up in red tape

Sports Writer

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Stuart McCall, manager Motherwell, faces an anxious wait to discover if he can call upon the services of Omar Daley against Levante in Spain tomorrow evening.

Stuart McCall has selection worries ahead of the Levante tie

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Thomas Jordan

The Jamaican midfielder may miss the Europa League play-off round second leg due to a problem with his passport and is by no means certain of boarding the team flight. The 31-year-old made unsuccessful trips to both Edinburgh and London yesterday as he attempted to resolve the issue and McCall, who is short of players as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg, is keeping his fingers crossed that Daley makes the flight.

"It's the same problem as Levante had with the lad Diop on the way out," he said. "I don't know if it's tit-for-tat and they're not answering phones because their guy didn't get in for the first game, but that was nowt to do with us. I don't know if Omar's going to be allowed in, hopefully he will. "He needs a visa and it takes up a full page of his passport – and his passport is full. There are no empty pages. He's been to London and Edinburgh and we're still waiting to get it finalised. The Spanish authorities were on holiday on Monday so we are waiting to find out what the situation is."Chasing a two-goal deficit against a team that finished sixth in La Liga would be a daunting task at the best of times but with a number of players all struggling through injury, the last thing McCall needs is to be without Daley.Michael Higdon described the first leg at Fir Park as the most difficult night of his career and is expecting similar tomorrow. "They are a very good side," said the Englishman. "It's going to be tough and it's going to be hot. It could be a long night but we go there feeling positive. If we start well then you never know. "The first leg was probably as tough a game as I've ever had. Their two centre-backs are very good, as is the big midfielder who kept standing in front of me. It was difficult. There are other areas to hurt them but I will need to raise my game if I am playing.'Physically, it was very tough. I am quite big, but they were bigger. A key area of the game was the centre forward playing against the defenders – and their defenders won that battle. We have to try to make that better."Meanwhile, the defender Steven Saunders faces at least three further months on the sidelines following an operation on a knee injury sustained during pre-season. Saunders missed the bulk of last season after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for Scotland Under-21s in August. McCall said: "He has got his head on to be back for Christmas."

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Passport issue leaves McCall's plans tied up in red tape

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