Hoops defender Andrew Gutman has revealed he had work permit issues upon signing for Celtic, necessitating his return to America to get regular football.
The 22-year-old left-back is playing for Charlotte Independence after being announced as a deadline day signing by the club in January, weeks after initially coming to Scotland on trial.
He will now work under former Celtic coach Jim McGuinness, who Gutman feels is best placed to develop him and prepare him for life back in Scotland, should his permit issues be cleared up in future.
Speaking to website American Soccer Now, Gutman explained:
I had work permit issues and I was able to come back to America and get a loan to Charlotte under Jim McGuinness who coached at Celtic for seven years.
For me it was an ideal situation. I had to go away from Celtic for a bit but at the same time, I still feel a part of it because the coach knows the Celtic way. I still feel like I am a part of Celtic and I can work to try to make it back to the first team there.
A product of the American college soccer system, he will now try to show progress under McGuinness, who at one time was tasked with preparing young players for life in the Hoops first-team.
On the face of it, it seems to be a perfect scenario for both the player and club, although playing in the American second-tier is unlikely to do his chances of gaining a work permit much good at all.
Hopefully those issues can be resolved and he can try to work with the squad in Scotland in an attempt to provide cover for Kieran Tierney, with Emilio Izaguirre expected to exit the club upon the expiration of his contract.