Alassana Jatta update at Notts County is far from ideal - it may raise exit fear | OneFootball

Alassana Jatta has been unable to obtain a visa for Notts County's pre-season trip to Germany.

Alassana Jatta has been unable to obtain a visa for Notts County's pre-season trip to Germany, something that is far from ideal for all involved.

The Gambia international should have headed to play three friendlies in Germany, against SV Darmstadt, FC Kaiserslautern, and Stuttgarter Kickers.

Visa troubles for Notts County star

The 26-year-old striker will be absent from the week-long excursion to continental Europe, and will instead train with the Magpies' B team back home, after failing to obtain a visa.

That will see him play pre-season games against Leicester City's under-21s side and non-league club Eastwood, while it is far from being the ideal preparation for the first season of ex-Burton Albion chief Martin Peterson's reign at Meadow Lane.

After joining during the 2023/24 term, Jatta netted five goals in ten appearances.

He has continued in his fine vein of form, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions during his first full season in the EFL.

Jatta started in Notts' opening pre-season game against National League North outfit Alfreton Town on Saturday, but will now only be available for one further friendly. That comes against League One side Cardiff City just seven days before the regular season begins.

County begin their season on August 2, but Jatta will also miss that.

He picked up a red card in the play-off semi-final against AFC Wimbledon in March, with the suspension leading into the new campaign.

Alassana Jatta could be latest to leave Meadow Lane

Jatta could soon be on his way out of Nottingham, with this latest blow only serving to heighten the swell of rumours around a move away this summer.

Notts County have already lost David McGoldrick, who opted against signing a new contract and has now found a new home at League One club Barnsley.

With a new manager in post, every second of time on the training ground or in pre-season friendlies is critical.

It allows the new season to begin with all the ideas they want to implement already set in motion.

Missing any aspect of that due to injuries, or visa issues, can have a massive impact on a player's ability to hit the ground running at the start of the season.

For Jatta, that is now a major concern.

While Jatta has seen his pre-season preparations derailed for the upcoming season at the Magpies, it could help boost the chances that he moves away from the club before the start of August.