He only turns 20 next month, but Yankuba Minteh has been on the right path for some while now and his next step is eagerly anticipated.
The 19-year-old Gambia international, who competed for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast earlier this year, has just come off a successful season on loan to Feyenoord Rotterdam, after being sent to the Dutch league to gain experience.
He helped the club to win the Dutch Cup and finish runners-up to PSV Eindhoven in the battle for league honours, and finished the league campaign with 10 goals.
His coach Arne Slot has headed to Liverpool and there is speculation that Minteh could be among Slot’s first signings as he settles in at Anfield.
His club Newcastle United, however, will know his worth, having spotted him when he was just 17 playing in Denmark.
Sending him to the Netherlands was o ensure rapid development, in tandem with the experience gained after winning his first cap for Gambia in a key game and making an immediate impact.
It was Minteh who scored the first goal against Congo last September in Gambia’s final Cup of Nations qualifier in Marrakech, Morocco. It was a game they needed only to draw but had to cede home advantage because of the poor state of the stadium in Banjul. Congo had to win and were 2-0 up with some 15 minutes to go before Minteh pulled one back. Teammate Mohammed Badamossi got the equaliser in stoppage time to ensure the Scorpions qualified for the tournament in the Ivory Coast.
After that came a chance to rub shoulders with top African players at the Cup of Nations finals, plus participation in the Champions League with Feyenoord.
The teenager is taking it all in stride: “I don't know if it's my African mentality, but I just take everything as it comes. When my agent told me I could go to Odense in Denmark, I said, ‘OK, let's go’. I didn't know the country, the club, the people, but it was just a step towards realising my dream.
“When Newcastle United came along after a year, I immediately knew that I wanted to go there. Big club, Premier League, the best league in the world.
“I could also go to Serie A and the Bundesliga, but why would I think about that if I can reach the highest level? I understood well that Newcastle wanted to loan me out. I knew Feyenoord, but not that well. I knew it was a big club. ‘Okay’, I said again, then we'll go to Rotterdam.'
Minteh now waits to find out what is the next move – Anfield, Newcastle or maybe even another season at Feyenoord, who are in the Champions League again this coming season.
“I believe very much in myself, in my qualities. In addition, you just have to go for your career and stay focused. There's no point in thinking that it's all happening so quickly. I better be happy about it. The fact that I played for Steve Biko in Gambia three years ago and made my debut in the Champions League this past season, I find that very nice rather than special.
'Ultimately the Premier League is my goal and Newcastle United is the club that has a lot of confidence in me. I have no idea what the future looks like. I will soon hear what plans the club has for me. I'm still young, I have time, maybe they'll want to loan me out again. I don't know yet, I hear it, I let everything come to me. All I know is that one day I will play in the Premier League.”