KIERAN GIBBS is preparing to enter Inter Miami’s nightmare season after starting training with the MLS team.
David Beckham’s Florida franchise have struggled near the bottom of the table and faced a huge fine for breaking financial rules.
But the arrival of ex-Arsenal ace Gibbs will be seen as another piece in the jigsaw for the young club, in only its second season.
The 31-year-old, released by West Brom, joins fellow English football exiles Ryan Shawcross, Brek Shea, and coach Phil Neville in the Inter ranks.
Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi are also on board to provide much-needed experience and star power yet the French midfielder’s arrival has done little to help the Miami coffers.
MLS fined the team £1.4million in May for incorrectly registering his arrival under targeted allocation funds, when he was meant to be a designated player.
Inter chief Jose Mas was fined £176,000, amid a number of charges for the club, with Beckham and other co-owners cleared of any wrongdoing.
Inter are languishing in 13th place of the 14-team Eastern Conference and no side in all of MLS has claimed fewer than their two wins this season.
Neville’s side last managed a victory on May 16 and have also brought in Aston Villa youngster Indiana Vassilev on loan to bolster the attack.
Conference leaders New England Revolution are on the horizon in a tricky run of fixtures that could up the pressure on the former England women’s coach.
Neville said after Inter’s defeat to Montreal last time out: “This run is unacceptable.
“Ultimately you’re judged on results, and we’ve lost five straight games and that is unacceptable.
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“The players are as disappointed as I’ve seen them. But the luck will change for us. We know what we have to do.
“We have to attack the rest of the season going into the meat of the season. We’re coming to a marathon, three games a week, playing the best teams.
“No more hiding places. We can’t hide behind injuries. Can’t hide behind international call ups. It’s win time.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
