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U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore is on his way to England today after a lengthy delay in the process to receive his international clearance, a delay that had nothing to do with the Landon Donovan swine flu case.
According to U.S. Soccer, the claims made by Hull City manager Phil Brown that Altidore's arrival in England was delayed because of a quarantine due to concerns over the swine flu are incorrect. Brown told the Hull Daily Mail that Altidore was being quarantined because of "the American team has a problem with the swine flu".
A U.S. soccer official told SBI that delay in Altidore receiving his international transfer certificate were solely related to the securing of his passport and visa.
Altidore did have to undergo biometric testing as part of the process of having a new passport made, but that process, and the subsequent delay, was not caused by concerns about swine flu.
As for Brown's suggestion of a quarantine, no U.S. national team players have been quarantined in connection with Donovan's positive test for the H1N1 virus. Michael Bradley and Steve Cherundolo were forced to sit out matches with their Bundesliga teams after the German Health Organization insisted they not play, but neither player was quarantined.
Altidore will join Hull City on Friday and could be in uniform for the team's match against Bolton on Saturday.
What do you think of this development? Did you have a feeling Brown didn't know what he was talking about? Think Altidore will get playing time on Saturday after being away so long? Have you already ordered your Altidore Hull jersey?
Share your thoughts below.