SCOTLAND forward Shaun Maloney is working so hard to try and make an impact at Chicago Fire that manager Frank Yallop has had to put the reins on him.

Maloney has spent the last 10 days at Fire's training camp in England - playing pre-season games against a Norwich City XI and a Queens Park Rangers XI - following his move from Wigan.

Yallop said: "He's a great pro. He doesn't say anything negative. He just wants to work well for himself and the club. Whatever we ask him to do he just does immediately.

"He wants to practice every time. I'm the one who's got to pull him out when he's been running around and tell him, 'Listen, you can't train today because you travelled in three hours in the car.' He's a joy to work with."

Former Celtic star Maloney will travel back to the US next week after securing his visa and is primed to make his MLS debut against LA Galaxy on March 6.