[JayDelight729]

US Soccer is reporting that Matt Pickens was granted a leave from US camp.

Red Card Blog says he's on a trial with a club in the English Championship.

While Dunord says he's on trial with Norwich. http://www.dunord.blogspot.com/

No further confirmation at this point.

Pickens is out of contract for 2008.

[olephill2]

He shouldn't have any problem catching on with a Championship level club, unless the Home Office stands in his way. Best of luck, Matthew.

[Sandon Mibut]

Any word on how Pickens would qualify for a Work Permit in the UK?

Does he have some ancestry that would get him an EU passport?

[new_skin]

Work permit issues aside, this would be awesome. I'm a big Pickens fan, and was looking forward to him possibly getting his first cap, but this is even better.

[afgrijselijkheid]

Originally Posted by new_skin

Work permit issues aside...

LOL

I'm not sure the Home Office will be up for this detour.

[Otergod]

Originally Posted by new_skin

Work permit issues aside, this would be awesome. I'm a big Pickens fan, and was looking forward to him possibly getting his first cap, but this is even better.

how i would like to see all fire players succeed, it pains me to think Pickens may go abroad ..... oh, if this goes down i guess its not all shot to shit.... guess we still have Busch

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Pickens had a trial or trials in Europe earlier in his career. I'm blanking on further details and can't easily find the link; maybe it was Ireland?

[JayDelight729]

Originally Posted by Dave Marino-Nachison

Pickens had a trial or trials in Europe earlier in his career. I'm blanking on further details and can't easily find the link; maybe it was Ireland?

I thought it was Norway, but I'm not confident that is correct.

[FirstStar]

Why do US players with no hope of ever getting a permit keep going on trials in Engerland? Do their agents seriously try to convince them that they can get through the Home Office, or is it just pitched as an all-expenses-paid trip to England to enjoy the lovely January weather?

[Otergod]

Originally Posted by FirstStar

Why do US players with no hope of ever getting a permit keep going on trials in Engerland? Do their agents seriously try to convince them that they can get through the Home Office, or is it just pitched as an all-expenses-paid trip to England to enjoy the lovely January weather?

practice during the offseason with a decent side??