Accam reveals visa problems derailed Stoke City interest

Rising Ghana football star David Accam believes he would be a Stoke City player now if only he could secure a work permit.

The 25-year-old Chicago Fire forward spent three days training with the Potters in December during the Major League Soccer's close season.

Any interest was put on the backburner due to difficulty in securing a visa, which had previously scuppered the club's pursuit of New England Revolution's Juan Agudelo.

Now Accam is back in the United States, still harbouring dreams of playing in the Premier League.

"There was a lot on the cards at Stoke, but there was a big issue with the work permit – I'm not qualified to get a work permit," he said.

"But aside from the work permit, it shows I am good enough to play in the Premier League. Stoke saw a lot of stuff in me, that's why they invited me to come and train with them and see what happened.

"I think the work permit is the only reason I'm not playing in the Premier League now."

Accam, who can play wide or centrally, has started the new MLS season with two goals and an assist in his first two starts, including a strike against Stoke's sister club Orlando City.

That kind of form has brought him back into international contention, which could eventually grease the wheels of a move to England although he has just had to pull out of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Mozambique due to a knee injury.