A trip to Sheffield on a cold Saturday in December might not be everyone’s idea of a fun day out, but Al Bangura, the Watford midfield player, will be happy to be heading for Hillsborough this weekend rather than back to Sierra Leone after learning that his deportation has been delayed after a successful appeal to the Home Office.

Bangura, 19, had been granted asylum after arriving in Britain from the West African nation at 15, but faced deportation after the Home Office claimed that his status altered once he turned 18. Now, a delegation including Graham Simpson, the Watford chairman, and Claire Ward, the Labour MP whose constituency includes Vicarage Road, have persuaded Liam Byrne, the Home Office Minister, to order an independent panel to consider a work permit.

“We have had a very good meeting with the minister Liam Byrne and we’ve been offered another avenue which we hope will lead to Al being allowed to remain in the country,” Ward said. “The minister has given a concession which will allow Watford to apply for a work permit and allow Al to remain in the country while he does so, which is exceptional.”

Normally, only players who have played a certain number of full international matches for nations in the top 70 of the Fifa world rankings are awarded work permits. Sierra Leone rank No 156 at present, and in any case Bangura has not played for them, but may now be considered a special case. He recently became a father and claims that he faces possible assassination if he returns to his homeland after he refused to succeed his late father as the head of the Soko tribe, originally leaving Freetown in 2003 because of death threats. Immigration officials believed the claims were exaggerated.

“Because Al wouldn’t qualify automatically for a work permit then his case will be considered by an independent panel which will include members of the Home Office and members of the football world,” Ward said. “They will consider the criteria and his track record and what he brings to the game and then recommend to the Home Office whether he should be allowed to have the work permit. Essentially what the minister and the Home Office have done is open up a new route by which we hope Al will be allowed to stay in the UK.”

However, Simpson sounded a note of caution. “It’s fantastic news, very positive, and we are very hopeful now that we can find a way through, but it’s not over yet,” he said. “It’s not a done deal. It’s a positive move forward.” Ward and Simpson went armed with a petition containing more than 4,000 signatures from supporters of Watford and other clubs on behalf of Bangura, who has made 64 league and cup appearances for Watford, including 20 during their season in the top flight in 2006-07. Elton John, the former chairman, also wrote to Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister.

Bangura has had an injured ankle since early in the season and will be a spectator if he accompanies the team to their match against Sheffield Wednesday, but was able to make what seemed likely to be a farewell half-time lap of Vicarage Road amid emotional scenes at last Saturday’s match against Plymouth Argyle.