TIM Ream postponed his honeymoon on the paradise island of Tahiti to fulfil his dream of playing for Bolton Wanderers.

The United States international defender, who is expected to complete his £2.5million transfer from New York Red Bulls by the weekend, subject to the granting of a work permit, is currently training with Wanderers at a damp and chilly Euxton when he could have been sunning himself in the South Pacific.

Such is his determination to realise his ambition to play in the Premier League.

Married a fortnight ago, the 24-year-old centre-half and his new wife had arranged to spend their honeymoon on the Polynesian island of Tahiti, but at Owen Coyle’s request, they cancelled the trip to ensure the transfer was not delayed longer than necessary.

“I think that speaks volumes for his desire to come on board – and this is a lad who had other offers from very good clubs,” the Wanderers’ boss said, alluding to Arsenal’s keen interest in Ream last summer and West Brom’s recent interest.

“Tim’s wife is also a footballer – a very talented one I believe – and they were well aware of the situation. They went into it with their eyes wide open, knowing this could possibly happen.

“It wasn’t a case of making a phone call saying ‘you’re going to Tahiti in three hours’ time, would you mind not going?’. They were married a week last Saturday and I asked him to cancel the honeymoon which he did gladly. That tells you how keen he is to become involved.

“It was something they discussed and, fair play to them, they decided to come to sunny Bolton instead of Tahiti.”

Ream, who comes highly recommended by US national manager Jurgen Klinsmann, has already shown Coyle he has the physical attributes to go with the burning ambition to play at the highest level.

While training with Wanderers he has recorded faster times in fitness tests than any player Coyle has worked with at the Reebok. And although he has not played competitively since the MLS season ended in October, the manager is confident he will be ready for first-team squad selection as soon as the deal is rubber stamped.

“I’ve got no doubts he could go straight in,” Coyle said of the player recruited to help plug the gap left by Gary Cahill’s £7m transfer to Chelsea which was concluded on Monday. “He’s had a few weeks off but he’s done all our fitness tests and has actually recorded the best times of anybody in 30-yard sprints or in the distance tests – and when you consider we’ve had the likes of Daniel Sturridge, who can run a little bit, it tells you the lad’s physical ability.”