Thomas was included in the 22-player squad selected by Jamaican coach Hubert Busby for a friendly international away to France on Friday. The striker was included instead of the PFA Women's Footballer of the Year, Khadija Shaw of Manchester City who was not selected due to what the Jamaican federation referred to as "a passport situation".

Shaw also did not travel to France last month for Manchester City's UEFA Women's Champions League match away to Paris FC after the club reportedly failed to submit the necessary visa application on her behalf. An attempt to make an application on the day of the game was not submitted in sufficient time to be processed.

A spokesperson for the French consulate in London said "On Wednesday 18 September, the applicant, Ms Khadija Shaw, went to the service provider in Manchester in charge of collecting visa applications for France, with a view to travelling that same evening."

"In view of the fact that the French Consulate in London does not receive paper visa applications for processing until two working days after submission, it was not possible to accept Ms Shaw's visa application. The Consulate did not, therefore, issue any refusal." Manchester City said they were said to be confident that "there will be no future issues".

Nevertheless, speaking to the media on Friday, Busby admitted that Shaw, despite playing for Manchester City in Austria last Wednesday, was still unable to travel to France. "We spoke last week. She has an issue that kind of limits her travel with her passport. So, she's going to try to look to get that rectified next week. That's why she's not in the squad." Jamaican citizens require visas to enter both Austria and France.

Shaw, Jamaica's all-time record goalscorer with a staggering 55 goals in just 42 games, has not played for the Reggae Girlz in over a year. She is one of 30 women shortlisted for the 2024 Ballon D'Or award which would mean an invitation to attend the ceremony next Monday held in Paris, if she can comply with French entry requirements. Shaw played every minute of Jamaica's first-ever Women's World Cup campaign five years ago in France, and lived in the country for the next two years after signing for Bordeaux.

She is due to play for Manchester City in Champions League matches away in Sweden and Spain over the next two months. It remains to be seen whether her passport issues will be resolved before then and Jamaica's next two games against South Africa at the end of the year.

After playing ninety minutes against Aston Villa yesterday, Shaw will now not have a game for two weeks, a situation that is unlikely to please her club manager. Apart from the enforced absence away to Paris FC, Shaw has played in every game for the club this season. Speaking on Friday, Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor admitted he wants to keep Shaw playing regularly. "I think it's really important that she continues with her rhythm. Some players are different."

Busby revealed he had been to the United Kingdom last month talking to clubs and scouting potential new recruits from the country's large diaspora. Thomas was one or four English-based players given a first call-up by the Jamaican coach who said "Natasha Thomas is someone who has kind of reached out. We've been monitoring her well. So we're looking to bring her in and see how she fits in."

This month, Thomas also became the club's record appearance-maker overtaking the former captain Amanda Crump who played for Ipswich Town on 216 occasions. Thomas admitted "when I first joined the club I never thought I'd become the record appearance holder. I know Amanda Crump who had been here for so long, but I didn't think that would be me."

When asked about her on Friday, the Ipswich Town men's manager, Kieran McKenna was full of praise for the striker. "She's a really well-known and well-respected member of the club. A leader in a young group. Any interactions I've had with her around the club, or the work she does with the foundation, she's a fantastic role model on and off the pitch."

Speaking to the BBC, Thomas admitted the news a about her international call-up had not sunk in yet. "I always dreamt it when I was younger. People always say if you don't dream these things, then they can't come true. It has all just come at the right time for me and myself and my family. Of course I'm nervous, but at the same time, it is a massive opportunity for me and I can't wait to grab it with both hands."

Also called up for the first time by Jamaica are the English-born Taylor Hinds, captain of Liverpool in the Women's Super League and Plymouth Argyle's Lulu Jarvis and Reanna Blades of Burnley, both of whom, like Thomas currently play in the third tier of the English game.