India U-17 goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. (Getty Images)

PANAJI: India U-17 goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem is determined to play abroad and has accepted an offer from Motherwell FC to trial with the Scottish Premiership side. Motherwell FC have asked Dheeraj to attend trials for a month and even train with the senior team that is now placed fifth in the Scottish Premiership. If he manages to catch the eye of the coaches, the 16-year-old will be offered a long-term contract.

Given a choice, Dheeraj would pack his bags and take the first flight to Scotland, but he is contracted with the AIFF till December 31, 2017. He is expected to represent them in the I- League by extending his contract till end season and then attend trials. "I am feeling more confident than ever before about moving abroad. After the performance in the U-17 World Cup, my confidence is on a high. I feel this is the right move for me," Dheeraj told TOI.

Currently in Goa with the Indian Arrows team, the India goalkeeper said his next target is to move up the rank. "It will be good or me if I move abroad. My next aim is to break into the senior national team. Constantine has been doing an impressive job and I really want to be a part," said Dheeraj.

Much of Dheeraj's decision to move abroad will hinge on the AIFF, with whom he is contracted with. According to his agent, Anuj Kichlu from The Football Edge, Dheeraj is not averse to doing duty for Indian Arrows in this edition of the I-League but does not want to be tied to a long-term deal.

"The trials can happen just after the I-League concludes in March. We want him to play the entire season and then go to Scotland. Motherwell, if they are impressed, will only make an offer for next season," said Kichlu.

Even assuming Dheeraj, who impressed for India at the U-17 World Cup, gets the nod from Motherwell, he will have another battle on his hand to procure a work permit. The United Kingdom has strict rules for footballers to qualify for a work permit. According to the rules, a player should feature in at least 75% of his country's competitive international games over the last two years, while the country, on average over those two years, should have been in the top 70 of the Fifa rankings. Dheeraj wouldn't qualify on both counts but Kichlu remains confident that an exception can be made. The club could also loan him to another European club to develop him and then move him to their senior team.

