Notts County did not quite have the perfect start to the season last weekend as they were held by Newport County away from home.
Gerard Garner handed the Exiles the lead just after half-time, but they were unable to hold on as the Magpies pressed on for an equaliser, with Jodi Jones converting from the spot on 65 minutes to hand his side a point.
However, Martin Paterson, who replaced Stuart Maynard, will be keen to see improvements from his side this weekend as they return to Meadow Lane to face Salford City, who were beaten 3-1 by Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
Alassana Jatta did not feature for Notts County in South Wales, after he was sent off in the play-offs against AFC Wimbledon last season, but there has been interest in the striker this summer.
How Notts County feel about Alassana Jatta
The Magpies are pushing for promotion to League One this season, and to do so, they are going to need goalscorers.
Therefore, keeping hold of Jatta is somewhat of a priority, and our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, has explained to EFL Analysis the striker’s situation at Notts County.
We understand that there is interest in the 26-year-old after he scored 19 goals in 40 League Two games for the East Midlands outfit last season, but the Magpies do not want to let go of him, with Bailey also explaining that there are sides from abroad taking note of the forward.
It’s understood that Notts County would need a significant fee to part ways with the Gambian international and after losing David McGoldrick to Barnsley already this summer, keeping Jatta is crucial.
Alassana Jatta is vital to the Magpies’ promotion chances
With McGoldrick gone, Saturday showed how important Jatta is to Notts County with the side lacking a credible threat up front.
Due to issues with his visa, he was not able to travel to Germany for a pre-season camp in July and he is potentially a little bit behind in terms of his preparation for the campaign.
| Appearances (starts) | 39 (38) |
| Minutes played | 3343 |
| Goals (assists) | 19 (4) |
| xG | 23.94 |
| Shots (on target) | 91 (46) |
| Pass accuracy | 80.6% |
| Chances created | 34 |
Paterson will be keen to not have an extended transfer saga leading up to deadline day, with the window set to shut on 1 September.
Therefore, supporters will be keen to see Jatta in the matchday squad this weekend against Salford and back among the goals.
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