Ayoub Assal missed out on making his debut for England's Under-20 side this year because his passport was stuck in the system's backlog.
AFC Wimbledon's nimble forward could have become the born-again Dons' first outfield player to gain international recognition for Ian Foster's Young Lions against Poland and Germany, and he trained with the squad at St George's Park. But he was left behind after joining the hostages to a useless Government and its gift for turning everyday life into paralysis.
At least Assal's talent has not gone unnoticed, and his form for the improving Dons has earned him alternative recognition as the EFL's Young Player of the Month for November. That's not bad for a kid who spent spells on loan at non-League Metropolitan Police and Billericay, although National League clubs were allegedly reluctant to borrow him because he was only 5ft 8in.
Dual national Assal is walking tall now. Born in Maidstone to Moroccan parents, he is also qualified to play for his ancestors' homeland and he has also attended a training camp with the Atlas Lions. And when Wimbledon are on parade at Swindon today, he could be forgiven for keeping half an eye, or half an ear, on updates from the Al Thumama stadium in Qatar.
Morocco's fairytale World Cup run has captivated fans far beyond North Africa, and there may be another chapter to write beyond their quarter-final against Portugal. Assal admits he would have loved to join the expats partying on London's streets after their shoot-out triumph against Spain.
“I saw the footage of Moroccans having a great time on the Edgware Road and wished I could have been part of it,” he said. “But I had to be up early for training the following morning, and the job comes first.
“I love the spirit and unity Morocco have brought to the World Cup. Defensively they have been so strong, and the coach (Walid Regragui) has done an amazing job for a guy who only took over three months ago. It's quite possible that England and Morocco could play each other in the semi-finals. I might get some interesting questions from the lads in the dressing room about who I'd support, but for me it's a win-win.
“England is where I was born, it's my home and it's where I learned my trade as a footballer. But my roots are Moroccan, I still have family in the Tangiers area and I go there to visit every summer. I'm not going to lie, my focus will be fully on our game at Swindon – but my heart will be beating for another World Cup upset at the same time.
“Despite the traffic, I've managed to get home to Deptford in time to watch all of England and Morocco's games so far, so this will be the first one I've missed, but it's winnable.”
Only a couple of months ago, the Wombles – relegated last season – were struggling to find the handbrake and had slipped towards the long rough in League Two. But on former Charlton manager Johnnie Jackson's watch, they have eased into the top half of the table and back on to the fairway.
“We're heading in the right direction,” said Assal, a darting winger or attacking midfielder with seven goals in his last 11 appearances. "Earlier this season we were trying to establish our identity as a team – where the goals were going to come from and how we were going to go about scoring them.
“But this club was built on a spirit of togetherness, and we look like a team gaining in confidence.”
