Manasse Mampala: my old Everton team-mate Jarrad Branthwaite said good things about Carlisle United

“I just spoke to him and asked him how it is – how Carlisle is as a place, and how the club is,” says the striker. “He was just saying positive things about it.”

Branthwaite and Mampala were team-mates at Everton until the latter was released, eventually arriving at United this summer via QPR.

The younger of the two – former Blues defender Branthwaite is 19, Mampala 21 – remains with the Premier League club, while the latter now seeks to build a first-team career in Cumbria.

The two former colleagues keep in touch. “He’s a quality player, you can see that,” Mampala says of the Wigton teenager. “He’s played in the Premier League and done well. He’s young and he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

The hope is that the same can soon be said of Mampala, who did well enough in a trial at Carlisle this pre-season to earn a one-year contract. The forward has scored some eyecatching goals – not least a stunner against his old friends in Everton’s Under-23 side – and is now part of Chris Beech’s squad, alongside a couple of other familiar faces.

Manasse Mampala (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“I spoke to Morgan a lot before coming in,” he adds of defender Feeney, also formerly of Everton. “He was our captain of the 23s [there]. I know Morgan really well. And even when I came here, he took me under his wing.

“There’s George Tanner, too. He was at [Manchester] United, and I’ve played against him a few times.”

Feeney and Tanner headed to Brunton Park to try and build a senior career of substance. Now Mampala makes the same move. After helping Everton’s youth sides to success, it is now about the front-line business of League Two football.

“It’s a very important season for me,” he says. “It’s something I’ve been working for all my career, playing in the first-team environment. It’s my first season in that and I want to give a good impression.

Mampala's performances in pre-season friendlies earned him a United deal (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“I believe in myself, I know what I can do and it’s all about putting it on the pitch now.”

Mampala’s story started in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, before his family moved to England when he was two. He joined Bradford in his early teens, before signing for Everton at 15.

A five-year spell with the Toffees followed. “It was great, playing with top quality players,” he says. “We won the league and cup there – and it helped me improve, because when I came there at first I was just physical, quick and strong, but they helped me improve technically and tactically as well. It was a good experience there.”

Mampala says the development of his technique is what he appreciated most at Goodison Park. Coaches such as John Ebbrell and Paul Tait “smashed it into me every day”, he says, regarding the need to add refinement to his natural attributes.

This saw Mampala develop alongside players such as Anthony Gordon, until the forward was released last year. “That was difficult, because with being there for five years it was all I knew at that time. The pandemic was on as well, so you didn’t really know what was going to happen next.

“A lot of clubs weren’t taking as many players as they otherwise would have because of the financial problems, so I was very grateful to get signed by QPR. A lot of my friends didn’t even get a trial, never mind the chance to sign anywhere.”

After leaving QPR at the end of last season, Mampala was eager to attack his latest opportunity, in Cumbria.

“I was at home training with a few friends, which is what I do before every pre-season, when I got a text from my agent saying that I was going up to Carlisle,” he says. “I’ve heard of the club before because Jarrad was here. He said good things about the club, and I also heard that the manager likes to gives young players a chance. It felt like a good opportunity to come here and show what I can do.”

Mampala says he headed to Brunton Park with another player who was less successful in his bid for a deal. Did he feel any pressure, given the short window to impress Beech? “I’ve been on trial many times, it’s nothing new," he says. "I’m used to it by now. I just go in to give a good first impression.

Chris Beech was impressed with Mampala's displays in training and friendlies (photo: Amy Nixon)

“I hadn’t played for a few weeks before I came here so I knew I needed to get sharp very quickly. It was about showing the manager what I could do.”

Mampala did that, scoring a well-taken goal against Workington, after which Beech pulled him to one side, outside the dressing room at Borough Park, and told him a contract was on the way. “I was so happy because it was something I wanted from the moment I arrived here.

“I was very relieved because I’ve got a lot of mates who were in situations where they don’t have clubs, and that makes it hard for them. That’s why I was over the moon that I came here and got a contract. It isn’t easy when you don’t have a club, so it’s a big relief.

“I called my parents [when I was told] and they were over the moon, they know how much it meant to me. It’s good getting the news, but it’s the stuff after it that counts. It gives me that motivation to keep going.”

Mampala says Beech has been detailed in describing his views and vision to him. “From the get-go he’s been speaking to me, telling me what he wants from me, showing me clips, getting me in his office and explaining things,” he says.

“There’s a good relationship between me and the manager. He’s told me he wants me to work hard first and foremost, and then he wants me to show my quality as well when the time comes.”

The early hints of that quality have encouraged fans. Mampala appreciates the welcome he has received. “It’s been quality,” he says. “I’ve been seeing it all on Twitter, Instagram and even at the game the other day [against Blackpool], the fans have been quality and very supportive. It gives me the confidence to continue what I’m doing.”

Mampala’s goal against Everton Under-23s was a gem – a whipped finish into the top corner to seal a 3-2 win – and it was fate that he should net against his former club. “If I wanted to score a goal it would have to be against my friends, doing it against my old club,” he smiles. “It was a nice moment because the old Everton lads were giving me a bit of stick. Scoring against them was really good. We laughed about it after the game and it was good to see them all again. I spoke to the coaches and the players and I hope they do well.

“Scoring a goal like that, I couldn’t have asked for anything better…”

Mampala wants to be a dynamic contributor to United’s attack. “I feel like I’m an exciting player, I like to get at players, run in behind, I like the ball at feet, getting at players, scoring goals, getting assists,” he says.

“I’m quite versatile. I’ve had spells playing behind the striker, as a 9, out wide...I’m pretty comfortable wherever the manager puts me.”

This, he says, will help him adapt whether United play a passing game or go long, while he admits he must learn the realities of League Two football.

“It’s a lot more physical, the players are smarter and you have to be switched on,” he says. “You can’t step off because the players react quickly and they’re on you. You have to be alert at all times. I’ve never really played with a first team at this level and seeing the way the players play is really good for me. I have to adapt to it, so that’s good for me as well.”

Mampala is aware of how last season panned out for United, with a rise to the top of the league by January followed by a falling away. With the optimism that any pre-season must bring, he feels they can recapture the best of what they produced in 2020/21 – with his own contribution as an extra element in 21/22.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to do that,” he says. There are quality players in the team and I do feel like there are big things coming from this team.

“I want to get in the team and once I do I want to be scoring and assisting as much as I can. We want to be promoted and I want to contribute to that.”