Josh Sims is set to get a New York State of mind again with another loan deal to New York Red Bulls on the cards.
Winger Josh Sims is in talks to return to New York Red Bulls, but the question to be asked by both the player himself and indeed Saints is another loan to the MLS club in his best interestes.
Loan deals last for the length of a transfer window and that meant when Sims went to the Red Bulls back in August he was going to find himself only getting a couple of months football and since his return to St Mary;s back in October he had to kick his heels at Staplewood, being able to train but unable to actually play in a game.
He has been available for Ralph Hasenhutt to select since January 1st but didn't even get a place on the bench against Huddersfield, perhaps illustrating how far down the pecking order in the Austrian's plans he is.
So it is not surprising that he is going to go out on loan again, but a surprise that it is to New York Red Bulls, if he goes there he may again find himself having another disjointed year.
He will be able to sign for New York Red Bulls from February 2nd when their pre season window opens and he would play his first competitive game on February 29 th, that in itself will mean he hasn't played in over four months.
A six month loan deal would mean he would return in August to Saints which would leave him little time to either battle for a place in our squad or find another loan deal if he didn't fancy another loan.
That would be the problem as the differences in season's between the USA & UK mean he would be left kicking his heels again in October and at this stage in his career that is not a good thing.
There is also the question of the differences in standard between the MLS and the UK's leagues, the USA League is Championship standard at best and it is notable that players like ex Saint Bradley Wright Phillips who struggled at Championship level to score goals and was at best a good League One Striker, but in the MLS he was a superstar.
A loan deal for Sims looks likely, but unless he is ready to ditch a career in England and move full time to the USA as Wright Phillips did, then he would be better finding a club in the Championship if there is really no opening at Saints for him.