CELTIC’S appeal for a work permit for Ivorian Koussa Eboue will almost certainly be granted considering the player’s rising status at international level.
UK law would automatically rule him ineligible for the go-ahead in the first instance because the 19-year-old midfielder has not played in more than 75 per cent of his country’s senior international matches over the past two years.
But an application can still be approved if an appeal panel – consisting of five ex-players or managers – grants a Governing Body Endorsement if they judge the player would be an asset to the Scottish game.
Based on Eboue’s age and the fact he has been called up to the Ivory Coast’s last two squads, the panel would find it hard to argue that his star is not on the rise.
The vast majority of work permit appeals are successful in Scotland, but refusals are often influenced by a player’s age.
That, of course, will not concern Eboue who actually only turned 19 on December 13.
