Marius Niculae yesterday spoke of his frustration over the work permit delay that threatens to rule him out of Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against Rangers.
A fortnight ago, the classy Romanian became the league's most surprising signing of the summer, but he has yet to make his debut for his new club.
Although Romania is now a part of the EU, special rules apply for Romanian migrants heading to the UK, unlike Poles, who have full freedom of labour movement. The scenario appears to have caught club officials and Niculae's agents by surprise as he strives for a new start in Scotland.
The 26-year-old, who has scored 12 goals in 28 games for his country, has failed to win the necessary 75% of available caps in the last two years.
The Highland club are trying to speed up the process of appeal but Niculae now seems certain to be a spectator when Walter Smith's side call early on Saturday.
Previously, Niculae played in Belgium, Portugal and Germany, but never experienced the kind of red tape nightmare now blocking his path.
The former Sporting Lisbon and Mainz frontman said: "It is just so frustrating to have to watch my colleagues play while missing all the friendly games. I was happy just to get a closed doors bounce game with our own players yesterday.
"I'm hoping and praying that my work permit comes through in time for the game against Rangers, but I'm not so confident. I'm very worried because it is out of my hands and the club's now, and is down to those who deal with the paperwork.
"After all of my past moves - to Sporting, Standard Liege and Mainz - everything always worked out just fine. Only in the UK does there seem to be this complication. I had thought it would be so much easier given that Romania has joined the EU, but it hasn't worked out like that."
Despite Niculae's frustrating wait to pull on an Inverness shirt, he insists that he has no regrets about swapping the Bundesliga for the SPL. A product of Dinamo Bucharest's youth system, Niculae has a rich pedigree and went on to appear in the 2005 Uefa Cup final with Sporting.
His career took a downturn last year amid competition for places at Mainz, before Caley Thistle's high-profile presence in Romania presented the chance to kickstart his career in Scotland. Staff from Orion, an engineering firm owned by Alan Savage, the chairman of Caley Thistle, are working with Romanian legend Gheorghe Popescu to publicise the club's foray into what is a largely untapped market for players.
Niculae, for one, believes it is easy for Romanians to settle in the Highlands. All he needs now is to be allowed to step on to the field.
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