While David Beckham enjoys the Hollywood lifestyle with the Los Angeles Galaxy, another British player is heading Stateside, although for the considerably less glamorous destination of Salt Lake City. Kenny Deuchar impressed officials of Real Salt Lake, the MLS club, when he scored twice for Gretna in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League match against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday and will now ply his trade in Utah rather than the Borders.

In fact, make that two trades - Deuchar, 27, is a qualified doctor as well as a forward and will be able to practise medicine at a centre in his new neighbourhood. Deuchar was in the last months of his contract with the Scottish side, whom he rejoined after a spell on loan with St Johnstone.

Gretna are under threat of administration, with players going unpaid while Brooks Mileson, the owner, is in hospital, and Deuchar was given an offer he could hardly refuse, even though only two Salt Lake players made more than £100,000 last season.

“He was a player we talked to a few weeks ago and knew there was a possibility of something,” Jason Kreis, the Real coach, said. “We saw some video and liked what we saw, enough that Garth [Lagerway, the general manager] wanted to go over there and see him play. When you go to see a player against Rangers and he scores twice, it tends to be a bit of an element.”

At 6ft 3in, Deuchar is expected to bring extra power to the Real attack. In the 2004-05 season, he scored 41 goals, including six hat-tricks, as Gretna won the third division by 20 points with a goal difference of 101. Consecutive second division and first division titles followed, but Deuchar was loaned out to Northampton Town in the second half of last season.

Beckham v Deuchar

Previous clubs: Beckham Manchester United, Real Madrid. Deuchar Gretna, Northampton Town, St Johnstone

Present location: Beckham Los Angeles Beautiful people and miles of golden beaches. Deuchar Salt Lake City The world headquarters of the Mormon Church and a big salt lake.

Present club: Beckham The Los Angeles Galaxy, who finished next to bottom of the MLS Western Conference last season; Deuchar Real Salt Lake, who finished below the Galaxy.

Salaries: Beckham $6.5 million; Deuchar $200,000.

Off-field activities: Beckham Part-time fashion model; Deuchar doctor.