A KITCHEN porter, working at The Belle Epoque in Knutsford, has been signed by Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Keegan Bernstein, who had been washing dishes, left Knutsford on Sunday to train with the club’s under 21s.

On Thursday Matthew Mooney, who runs the restaurant, said Keegan had been asked to move to London on Thursday but delayed his transfer because the restaurant was so busy.

Potential star “He didn’t want to let us down,” he said.

Last week Mr Mooney said staff would miss him.

“We understand what a fabulous opportunity this is for him,” he said.

“Besides, it’s unlikely that we will be able to match his future wage demands.”

Four months ago, though, life in England - the country he had dreamed about since he was a boy - seemed rather break. Although he was living in Kent, he was struggling to find work.

Then two months ago he was offered a job - and a room - at The Belle Époque.

“I was going to be stranded if I didn’t get this job,” he said.

Over the past two months he has trained with Knutsford FC at their Manchester Road ground.

But last month he and 60 other players attended a two-week football academy in Shropshire last month.

Despite injuring his Achilles tendon in the final match, he played on because he was so determined to impress.

One of Celtic’s youth team coaches picked Keegan out as a potential star.

“I gave it 110% and he said after that game that I was the most outstanding player,” he said.

Keegan was expecting to get trials at Celtic but then Tottenham Hotspur contacted him - and signed him up.

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