HULL CITY: Altidore faces race to earn his Spurs

JOZY Altidore was today hoping to finally be granted international clearance to begin his Premier League career with Hull City.

But with the Tigers working to a "very tight schedule" it means tomorrow night's game with Tottenham is likely to come too soon.

Despite receiving a work permit eight days ago to rubber stamp his move to the KC Stadium, Altidore's arrival back in England has been held up in bizarre circumstances.

As part of the USA side that travelled to Mexico for last Wednesday's World Cup qualifying defeat, the 19-year-old striker was in contact with suspected swine flu victim Landon Donovan.

Like all of his international team-mates, Altidore has since found himself the subject of precautionary tests, delaying the international clearance needed to head to England.

City hope that will finally be given to him this morning but the set-backs should rule him out of Spurs' visit.

Instead, Altidore will target a home clash with Bolton on Saturday for a belated Premier League bow.

"Unfortunately, there's been a scare in the American camp that's caused a set-back," Brown told the Mail.

"They've had a concern over contamination and they do not want to put their players in jeopardy.

"Hopefully, it will finally be done first thing, but we're working to a very tight schedule for tomorrow night.

"It's out of our hands but I'd be 95 per cent certain for Bolton on Saturday."

According to reports from across the Atlantic, national body US Soccer have asked players and team administrators to take a course of the preventative drug Tamiflu.

Donovan's illness is not thought to be serious but team-mates have come under scrutiny from cautious health officials.

Altidore has since spoken of his frustrations via his Twitter site, but should be given the green light to head for England inside the next 24 hours.