FORMER Colchester United loanee Bongani Khumalo’s prospects of staying in English football next season are “unlikely” because of visa problems.

Khumalo played a big part in the U’s staying in League One last season and tasted defeat only twice in the ten games he played for them towards the end of the campaign, while on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 28-year-old is now a free agent after being released by Spurs and Colchester boss Tony Humes would like to bring the South Africa international back to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, on a permanent basis.

But the U’s are not the only club interested in signing Khumalo and their League One rivals Doncaster Rovers are also keen on the defender, who spent seven months on loan at the Keepmoat in the 2013-14 season.

However, Rovers boss Paul Dickov has said that a lack of domestic and international football game time could prevent the centre-back from continuing his career in England. Rules state that a player must have played in a high percentage of international and league games, in order to qualify for a visa.

And according to the player’s representatives, the fact that Khumalo missed nearly 12 months of football because of a serious knee injury could stop him from continuing in this country.

Dickov said: “Because of the unlucky injury that he had and the amount of time he was out, he hasn’t played the number of games for the national side and in this country that is required, which makes it a problem getting his visa.

“It’s looking unlikely that it will be sorted out but his representatives here and in South Africa are trying everything they can to get it sorted out.

“Bongs was fantastic for us, both on and off the pitch as a player and a person and he’s definitely one that I’d be interested in.

“I made the call to his agent at the end of the season because he finished the season strongly at Colchester but we were told the main problem was with his visa,” Dickov added.

“It’s not just disappointing for me but also for him because he wants to stay in England and play football.”