Bassett Says Zhang Yuning Appeal Is "50/50"

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 23, 2001

Bassett Says Zhang Yuning Appeal Is "50/50"

Leceister City manager Dave Bassett admitted on Thursday that he has no idea how Friday's work permit appeal for striker Zhang Yuning will pan out.

Leceister City manager Dave Bassett admitted on Thursday that he has no idea how Friday's work permit appeal for striker Zhang Yuning will pan out.

The City boss is due to attend a hearing in Sheffield with other club officials to try and convince the Home Office of the Chinese international's credentials.

The Home Office had initially ordered that Yuning had to have played over 75% of his country's internationals. However, the 24-year-old has mostly played his internationals in the Olympic Games, which the Home Office declared made him ineligible for a work permit.

Friday's hearing will be City's last chance to convince the Home Office of Yuning's pedigree - and Bassett conceded he is taking a step into the unknown.

"I've absolutely no idea how tomorrow's hearing will be concluded," he said. "I think it stands at 50/50 at the moment.

"We're hoping that our case will be put forward and accepted. Hopefully we can do enough to convince them that he can earn a work permit.

"We've got documentation from the Chinese FA and hopefully it should do the trick.

"But of course you never know in appeals. It all depends on the committee who analyses it on the day. I'm not even sure if we'll find out the outcome tomorrow.

"If it goes in our favour we'll get him over here as quickly as we can. We've heard a lot about him, he's a talented lad from what I've seen and we need goals.

"We're going there optimistic and I hope it all turns out well for us."