Bryan Ruiz has received his work permit and his flew back to London on Tuesday evening in order to train with his Fulham team-mates this morning.
The Costa Rican winger had expected to remain in Madrid, where he was training with two members of Fulham’s fitness staff while he waited for the British Embassy to finalise the documentation for his work permit, until tomorrow or Thursday but received a phone call telling him that he had been approved for a provisional work permit.
Ruiz told his official website of his delight:
I have wanted to have my first training with the group, and I signed a week ago and I could not train, but I hope to do the training tomorrow. Obviously, I’m a little anxious to start a new club in a top league.
The player himself believes there is ‘no downside’ ahead of a potential Fulham debut against Blackburn on Sunday, but the final decision will rest with Martin Jol, who must decide whether to throw Ruiz straight in at the weekend after only a few days of full training.