Sunderland are having to make a special case for a work permit for Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari in a case that highlights the growing importance of international football.

The Ghana midfielder is looking to complete a loan move to the Premier League club until the end of the season but will struggle to meet the requirement that says a player should have played in at least seven percent of games for his national side to get a British work permit.

Muntari's struggles for a work permit are purely down to the fact that the player had issues with previous Black Stars boss Milovan Rajevac over what Is generally believed to be his gross indiscipline in the national camp.

He was first dropped from the country's 2010 Nations Cup squad after snubbing Rajevac for a meeting in Milan and, even though he made Ghana's World Cup squad, he fell out with the boss again after he lost his place to Dede Ayew.

He has been left out of games involving the Black Stars, which now seems to be coming back to haunt him.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce though is confident the club can make a strong case for the Ghanaian midfielder.

"We are hoping we can get the paperwork sorted out and get Sulley a work permit," he says. "He is a special player and will be a fantastic asset for us."

However, the difficulty does underline the fact for players seeking their opportunities in the English Premier League, the national team remains fundamental.