Samoan Pesamino lit up the IRB Sevens stage last season © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Mikaela Pesamino

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Sale head coach Mike Brewer has played down the continued absence of new-signing Mikaele Pesamino and insists the Samoan international will join up with the Premiership club as planned.

Speaking ahead of the Sharks' season-opener against Newcastle at Edgeley Park on Friday night, the Kiwi moved to quash rumours that IRB Sevens Player of the Year had turned his back on the move with the aim of a return to the shortened version of the game ahead of October's Commonwealth Games.

However, whilst revealing the 26-year-old had experienced some visa issues, Brewer insisted the player known as 'Lightning' would join the club in the near future.

"Mikaele's agent is Freddy Tuilagi who's a difficult chap to get a hold of but he's in the UK right now - I spoke to him this week so at this stage the visa has not been granted for him," Brewer said. "We're trying to find out from the Home Office why it hasn't been granted, whether it's an administration error or whether it's something we did not know about when applying for the visa.

"From previous history and precedent there is no reason why it shouldn't be granted because he has played international rugby for Samoa within the last 18 months. He's in exactly the same position as Paul Williams who joined us in the summer and Paul was granted a visa without any problems.

"I'm not concerned that he may be having second thoughts. Mikaele said he had done his time playing in Sevens. He wants to play professional 15 and he wants to come to Sale. His decision is he wants to come here - he's frustrated about the visa being knocked back.

"I want him here yesterday. He's very much part of my plans - he always has been and will continue to be. If, whatever reason, Mikaele can't join us I won't rush into looking for a replacement. We've got Rhys Crane and Tom Brady, who have done pretty well so far and when you bring back Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait and Ian Thornley there is a lot of cover there.

"Mikaele would just add another dimension with his out- and-out pace though I'm not saying he would walk into the starting team. He's got a lot to learn in the 15s game but it would be nice to have him here."