Fuller: Following the first Haiti game on June 12, he had swelling in the knee and was unable to train for a number of days and was only used as a substitute in the return leg against Haiti eight days later.
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
NATIONAL STRIKER Ricardo Fuller might have had irreparable damage done to his chances of earning a transfer to the English Premier League as a move to Portsmouth was scrapped late Friday because of a failed medical caused by a "troublesome right knee".
The 24-year-old Fuller was expected to complete a two million pounds sterling move to the club on the weekend following a medical.
It would have completed the third part of a tripe swoop by the ambitious club following the capture of the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lomana LuaLua from Newcastle and the free transfer of Englishman David Unsworth on a free transfer from Everton.
According to a report on the Portsmouth web site, the club decided to pull out of the deal for the player on advice from two medical sources. As a result Fuller will humbly return to Preston to join the rest of the squad for pre-season training.
SECOND TIME
It was the second time in his career that Fuller has had an injury end chances of a transfer. In 2000 a move to Charlton Athletic ended when it was discovered that he had a back problem that necessitated surgery. The injury prone striker also had his left knee reconstructed in the 2002/2003 football season, which kept him out of action for nine months.
Fuller's latest letdown could keep interested clubs, especially those in the Premiership, away from him.
The collapse of the move confirmed the fears of a number of observers who questioned the wisdom of Fuller demanding a transfer from Preston North End, especially at a time when he was not considered fully fit following surgery in mid-may to "wash out" his right knee.
In his two World Cup qualifying matches for Jamaica in June against Haiti, Fuller looked way short of his best. He was clearly favouring his right knee, over which he wore a knee support.
SWELLING IN KNEE
Following the first Haiti game on June 12, he had swelling in the knee and was unable to train for a number of days and was only used as a substitute in the return leg against Haiti eight days later. Again playing him looked like a risk.
Returning to Preston could be a humbling experience for Fuller, who clearly upset the club executives and their fans when he forced their hands by demanding a transfer.
His demand left the club with little choice as had they not attempted to cash in on him they could have lost his services for nothing in the summer as he will be a free agent then.
"We have to be realistic. There is no point holding on to a player who is not 110 per cent behind the club and his team-mates. My job as chairman is to secure the best deal for the club," said chairman Derek Shaw over two weeks ago, explaining his position after agreeing to Fuller's transfer demand.
FIRST SIGNING
Club manager Craig Brown, who made Fuller his first signing when taking over the club over two years ago, was just as disappointed.
"I am naturally very disappointed. Apparently, Ricardo is very impatient to get into the bigger money."
"It is a blow to lose one of the better players, but we will press on as a matter of urgency to find a suitable replacement," said Brown at the time.
That replacement could be Fuller's countryman Omar Daley, who just last week completed the signing of a one-year loan deal at the club.
With Preston now in the dominant position in their relationship with Fuller, the player could find himself spending a lot of time on the bench working hard to regain the trust of the manager and his teammates.
While managers and teammates may be quicker to forgive, his 19 goals of last season will help in the process, Fuller could find himself being booed by the team's own fans because of his lack of commitment to the club.
