The pressure will be well and truly on Kevin Richards? shoulders when he joins up with the Colorado Rapids this weekend.

For Richards joins the Major League Soccer team as a transitional international, of which only 20 are allowed in the league.

The Bermudian, who is studying political science and English at Notre Dame University, has made it clear that he intends to graduate, a move applauded by the Rapids but which increases the chances he may miss the boat if he does not hit the ground running when he steps out on the training pitch.

?In our league there are two definitions for foreign players.

?Our rosters are allowed three senior international players, but if you are under the age of 24, which Kevin is by a couple of years, you can qualify as a transitional international,? coach Tim Hankinson told . ?This gives you a couple of years to grow your game and to be considered two years from now as a senior international.

?(Kevin) is coming into camp on Sunday and will be with us for around ten days so that we can make an early decision on him.

?I know that he has a pending national team camp in Bermuda in February and also he is very intent on graduating.

?So, we will get an early look and then he will resume his responsibilities at Notre Dame and with the Bermudian national team and then look to return to Colorado, if things go well, when he does graduate and join us once the season has begun.?

Having seen Richards play for his university, Hankinson knows he has the potential, the thing is he now has to prove it in a professional setting as opposed to an amateur one.

?I think it?s very important for him to show well in the next two weeks because as a transitional international, our league only supplies 20 transitional contracts, total,? he said. ?Therefore, for us to wait until he comes in the springtime, it could be that, because it?s first come first served, those contracts could already be utilised.

?Therefore, there would be no way for him to join a roster.

?That means during these next two weeks, probably more than any of the other draft picks, it is very important for him to perform and show that he belongs ? if so we can make an early decision on him, send him on his way to take care of his school and national team responsibilities and welcome him back under contract later in the spring.?

Hankinson said Richards was someone the Rapids had their eye on for a while.

?We play a 4-4-2 and we like our wingbacks to be comfortable going forward and bring something to the attack. In our scouting, we specifically were looking this year for a right-back that could bring something to the attack and take care of his defensive responsibilities,? he said.

?My assistant coach and my general manager had the opportunity to see him play and gave a good scouting report on him.?

Richards could easily have been picked up by a league rival during the draft before it came to Colorado?s turn to pick so Hankinson was pleased he was still available.

?We felt because of his international status that he would not go in the early couple of rounds and we estimated right there and were able to pick him up in the fourth round,? he said.

?That pecking order doesn?t necessarily dictate the quality of player. Sometimes we have seen players come out of the third or fourth round and have stellar years over players that were picked in the first round who really didn?t pan out.

?We feel he has the qualities. I know his coach at Notre Dame, Bobby Clark, who has played internationally for Scotland, rates him very highly. He feels he has the character to make the next step and has not reached his potential as a player, so, hopefully, our atmosphere challenges that and it benefits our team?s performance and hopefully there?s a carry over to the Bermuda national team.?

Notre Dame coach Clark, meanwhile, is delighted that his young protege has been picked up by Colorado, but believes the player?s journey into the world of football is still only beginning.

?There is still a lot of work for him now,? said Clark, who converted the forward to an attacking full-back.

?But he is still developing and he has a lot of potential. I have always liked attacking full-backs and Kevin has converted to the role superbly well.

?He has come along way in the three years spent with us and he has got his reward. There are still a lot of options open to him.

?He is going into a good league, but because of his Bermudian passport, he has the option to move to Europe at some point, which a lot of players can?t do because of visas.

?I think he has got what it takes to cope over there ? maybe one day he will go to Aberdeen (Clark?s former club).?

As well being a talented footballer, Clark has also been impressed with Richards? attitude and is proud that the youngster has decided to stay on and finish his degree.

?He is a super kid,? continued Clark, who has now seen 17 players progress through his care into the MLS ranks.

?Not only is he a good athlete, but he is a good student. He is a student-athlete and he is a bright lad. It is going to be tough for him because he has chosen to finish his degree, but there is only a semester (term) to go and I think he has made the right choice.?