For those of you who have been keeping up Delgado's frequent flyer miles while a crock, you'll be aware that the medication to cure his back problem failed to work, and he had to return to Ecuador for an operation. That's right folks, the reason no one can get a back operation quickly in this country is because all the good ones are head hunted by Ecuadorian companies.
Of course, Agustin's friends and family and most importantly, his national FA are there to stir him up for another strop or play him when he's not fit.
That Agustin is nearing some kind of fitness is good news. That he's leaving Ecuador to finish his recovery is even better news. The cherry on top was Delgado saying "I'm traveling back to England to finish my recovery.The club doctors will assess the best way to continue my treatment."
You'd be thinking that it's all just too good to be true. And you'd be absolutely spot on.
Diego Herrera, typically for an agent, simply can't see the problems with his client and blunders into yet another stupid quote. Herrera starts off well by saying "I'm sure that Tin will recover very well from this surgery."
But he just can't help himself. He's got to promote his client to other clubs. The only way that's going to happen is through the National team which contributed to his Draper award fro Crockdom 02/03.
"It's possible that he could even wear the national team shirt in their third qualifying match against Paraguay," continued the clearly oblivious Herrera.
The management of Saints would have to be completely insane to allow Delgado to go even near his national team until he is completely, one hundred per cent fit again. Oh dear, FIFA regulations say that he can't play for his club for five days after a national game, if he's been withdrawn from it. Tough. I'd much rather see him stay here, continue his treatment and settle into a squad where there's no end to the level of bemusement towards him.
If Delgado had any sense, he would see that his long term career will be much more profitable if he takes his time getting back from injury and reestablishing his club form, rather than risking another breakdown byjetting off for another international before he's ready.
Never mind Gordon Strachan not wanting him to play in any internationals. It was Rupert Lowe who agreed to pay the three and three quarter million pounds to bring Delgado to the club. No one will be more aware than Lowe what the return on that investment has been. There will also be no one more determined to ensure that such a poor return doesn't continue.