Tyrese Omotoye, who became Carlisle’s second transfer window recruit, watched the United game at Harrogate on Tuesday – and is keen to play a role in the Blues’ survival fight.
The 19-year-old Norwich City forward has joined on loan for the rest of the season and is up for the fight.
It’s the Belgium-born youngster’s third loan spell in his short professional career, having previously spent time at Swindon Town and Leyton Orient.
He told the club’s official website: “Having watched the game at Harrogate I can’t wait to get started.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity as I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club.
“When you know the manager wants you it’s a no-brainer. I also know Tristan [Abrahams] from when he was at Norwich, which also helps, and I spoke to Brad [Young] about his time here as well. I’m just buzzing to get started.
Teenage forward Brad Young leaves Carlisle United
“The manager has spoken to me about how I can fit into the team,” he added. “I’m still quite young so I’m always learning, and I feel like this is a challenge I need at this stage of my career.
“The staff at Norwich have just told me to come here and do what I do best. They know what I’m capable of as a player and it’s just about being able to do it week in, week out.
“I feel like I’m at a good age to put my marker down here.”
Signed for Norwich City at 13
He was only 13 when he signed for Norwich, after playing his junior football with Isthmian League club Cray Wanderers.
“I was very young when I signed for Norwich, but I felt like it was the best place for me to go and develop my game,” he says.
“I’ve been there for six years now and I feel like I’ve developed a lot, so it was definitely the right decision for me to do that.
“I’ve scored goals at every age group so when I was scoring for the under-23s it just felt like I was doing what was coming naturally to me, to be honest.
“The next step was obviously loan deals into senior football, and that’s been challenging so far, but I feel this is the time for me to change that.
“I’m not one to stay in my comfort zone so when the conversations about my first loan move first started it was something I really wanted to do. I wanted to see what I could do in men’s football.
Loans at Swindon and Leyton Orient
“I’ve had those loans with Swindon and Orient and I would say I’ve developed quite a bit as a player, but even more as a person.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last year which will only help me for the rest of my career.
“The loans probably haven’t gone as well as I hoped in terms of appearances, but I’m very grateful for everything that has happened and I just want to kick on here with Carlisle now.
“I’ve had a lot of changes over the last couple of years so I feel like I’m quite used to going into a new environment and meeting a new set of players.
“I’m looking forward to the game on Saturday already and I just can’t wait to get started.”
Omotoye has played three times for the Norwich senior side while his loan spells totalled seven appearances for Swindon and just four at Leyton Orient over the first half of this season.