Dion Aiye may yet arrive in west Cumbria to continue his career with Whitehaven.

The Papua New Guinea star had been expected before the pre-season friendlies after agreeing a new contract at the Recreation Ground.

But persistent hold-ups in obtaining visa clearance put his return on hold and, at one point, it looked as though it was not going to happen.

It now appears there has been a breakthrough and Aiye, a versatile player, might be able to return to boost the squad by the end of next month.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “It looked to be going nowhere and seemed as though Dion would not be coming back.

“But suddenly there’s a date been given, April 13, for an interview he has to attend which, hopefully, can set the wheels in motion again.

“It’s possible that if the paperwork is completed from there Dion could be over by the end of April.”

Coach Carl Forster said: “Obviously Dion is a classy player and getting him back is going to add a quality player to our squad.

“We thought it had all gone quiet and wasn’t going to happen, but things have moved quickly over the last few days.”

Aiye played 29 games for Whitehaven in the Championship last season and scored four tries, operating mainly at stand-off or loose-forward.

He had signed for Haven for the first time in 2015 and scored three tries in his 16 appearances.

Now aged 29, Aiye was selected for Papua New Guinea in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

And the following year he was a member of the Papua New Guinea Hunters squad which played in the Queensland Cup.

Aiye’s fellow countryman Jesse Joe Parker had returned as planned before the pre-season friendlies and, on Sunday, scored two tries in the Challenge Cup clash against Oxford.