Now that Tim Ream has been successful in his work permit application appeal, we are simply left waiting for the official confirmation that the young American has been signed.

The Bolton News has it that Ream has actually returned to America in order to make arrangements and finalise the practicalities of his move to England, and as a result will not feature in Bolton’s FA Cup tie with Swansea at the weekend.

One particular concern that has gone slightly under the radar and one that sticks out when also considering the potential transfer of Sebastian Le Toux from Philadelphia Union, is the lack of recent game time.

I am willing to be corrected on this but both Le Toux and Ream played their last competitive league matches in the MLS in the first week of November 2011. Arguably both men have a season of football behind them and have been enjoying their break in the MLS offseason. (Tim Ream most notably using his leisure time to marry his girlfriend, and immediately frustrate her by cancelling their honeymoon).

The point that i’m making is that both of these players have had an extended break from competitive football and in truth should be going into a pre-season campaign to prepare for the new MLS season in mid-March. Are they going to have the sharpness and match fitness that only comes through playing regularly and competitively? This potential problem is compounded by the undoubted step up in class that both men would face by coming to the Premier League.

It poses the question of whether or not Ream is going to be able to make any kind of immediate impact on the first team by challenging Wheater and Knight?  In addition, during what is a highly competitive dogfight season for the Whites, whether signing players that are not ready to immediately enter the fray is a sensible move from the manager?

Only time will tell!