Prolific Jatta 'can’t stop scoring' - Maynard

Alassana Jatta has scored 14 goals in 22 appearances for Notts County since arriving in February

Alassana Jatta's scoring form for Notts County is a reflection of the striker character, says Magpie boss Stuart Maynard.

The 25-year-old Gambian scored twice in Notts' 5-1 FA Cup first-round win against non-league side Alfreton las week to take his tally to nine goals in 12 appearances in all competitions this season.

And there is a clear pattern to when he hits the back of the net, with a majority of them coming in the first 15 minutes of each half or within 15 minutes of him coming off the bench.

"It's just AJ's natural game, he is enthusiastic and sets the tone from minute one - whenever he steps onto the pitch he literally gives it his all," Maynard told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"He is always putting defenders under pressure - when he is on the pitch he makes you feel uneasy and that is a big problem for defenders."

The zeal that the 6ft 4in (193cm) forward plays with was immediately apparent to all at Notts when he joined the League Two club from Danish top-flight side Viborg in February.

"When we first signed him I said it would take time, but it didn't really take that much time to get him up and running," Maynard said.

"When we signed him, we knew the power that he has [as a player], but as an actual human being he is incredible around he place - he is always smiling and every room he goes into, he just lights up.

"He comes onto the training ground and is smiling every morning. No matter what, he gets on with it and enjoys it - he loves playing football, he has that enthusiasm every day. He is a real joy to work with."

"He has taken it onto the pitch, and on the pitch he can’t stop scoring."

In a side that included prolific striker Macaulay Langstaff last season, Jatta managed to net five goals in his 10 appearances after moving to the English game.

And with Langstaff moving to Championship side Millwall in the summer, Jatta has quickly established himself as the leading marksman this season.

While he has scored nine across all competitions, he and hugely experienced former Premier League striker David McGoldrick have each netted six times for Notts in the fourth tier so far this term.

Jatta’s form has also earned him his first international call-up for The Gambia ahead of their upcoming matches against Comoros and Tunisia.

"One thing with AJ is that he can score all types of goals," Maynard said.

"He can score goals at the back post because he is 6ft 4in, he has got his headers this season but he can also get his tap-ins, which is very key because they are the free goals for the forwards.

"And Macca [Langstaff] was excellent at it, his movement in the box to peel to the back post, and we have worked on it with AJ and he is brilliant at it as well now.

"The structure also plays a massive part, and that is why we are scoring so many goals and why we do believe whatever forward plays down the middle for us, they will score goals."