Striker on his unusual path to England, his first sight of snow and how friends back home now wear Notts shirts

Football appears to be a small world but moving from the Gambia to Estonia still seems a little unconventional. It was a route the Notts County striker Alassana Jatta took when he left his homeland as a 20-year-old, desperate to make it in Europe as a professional. The journey from Sukuta to the banks of the Trent has been convoluted, complicated by absconding triallists, contract withdrawals and the weather.

Jatta’s CV is eclectic, featuring spells with Real de Banjul in his homeland, Paide Linnameeskond in Estonia and the Danish club Viborg. Currently he is second in the League Two scoring charts with 17 goals, spearheading the Magpies’ promotion push. They sit sixth, four points off automatic promotion, and face a trip to Salford on Friday.

• Progress made in talks over deal for Egyptian forward
• Van Dijk also likely to remain at Anfield past this season

Liverpool are increasingly confident Mohamed Salah will sign a contract extension beyond this summer after progress in talks over recent weeks. It is a significant boost with the captain, Virgil van Dijk, also likely to extend his stay beyond June. The Dutchman said this week that progress had been made with regard to securing his future at Anfield.

The pair have been instrumental for Liverpool this season, with the club closing in on a record-equalling 20th top-flight title. They have been ever-present in the Premier League under Arne Slot. Salah has scored 27 goals in 31 appearances while Van Dijk has helped Liverpool concede only 30 to put them top, 11 points clear of Arsenal, with seven games to play.

Midfielder has bounced back from tough Forest Green loan and is chasing Conference League glory at Legia Warsaw

Fourteen months ago, Maxi Oyedele was experiencing the lowest moment of a burgeoning career, being substituted after coming off the bench for a team destined for relegation from League Two. Now he is preparing for a European quarter-final with Legia Warsaw against one of the biggest clubs on the continent. Forest Green feels a world away.

When any teenager is loaned by Manchester United to a lower-league club, the aim is for them to gain experience that can help them progress. In theory, this is done through positive performances and playing against senior professionals, allowing a youngster to learn the tricks of the trade. Sometimes, however, a setback is the best learning curve. It has helped the midfielder earn full international honours, the Conference League battle with Chelsea in Warsaw on Thursday and a Polish Cup final next month.