Yankuba Minteh was told football could change his life – and that of those close to him - when he was a teenager in Gambia.

The next step could happen at Everton on Saturday when he introduces himself to the Premier League.

Albion’s summer signing from Newcastle has been arguably the big success of their pre-season.

It is not just the three goals which have put him in pole position to start the opening fixture.

He has also been diligent in winning the ball back high up and has been a creator of goals and chances as well as a finisher.

Speaking to The Argus during the trip to Tokyo, Minteh said former Gambia under-17s coach Abdoulie Bojang was among the big influences on his early career.

Now Bojang, who currently coaches the nation’s under-20s, has given some insight into how he helped channel the raw promise Minteh was showing from a young age.

Minteh played for Gambia under-17s and signed for top-flight club Steve Biko FC, where Bojang also coached.

Bojang, a former international who is rated as one of the best midfielders Gambia has ever had, said: “He had a lot of potential but it was raw.

“Some people would take advantage and just take him anywhere they wanted him to play for them.

“He was a talented player so we started to advise him to be responsible and to make sure he took good care of himself.

“He started taking good advice.

“I told him. ‘You are very skilful, very good at dribbling. All I want is for you to make some passes’.

“He needed some guidelines.

“Sometimes when he had a problem he would call me.

“People knew he was a fine player, he was a young player and they would call him to play for them.

“He enjoyed playing football but I advised him to look after himself and he could make a living out of football.”

Bojang recalls every team in the first and second divisions in Gambia wanting Minteh.

“There is a tournament played in schools football which is the principle tournament and he was the outstanding player.

“That was where they identified him also.

“Every team wanted him to play for them but he came to Steve Biko.”

Bojang always saw Minteh as a winger but recalls playing him in midfield in an under-17s friendly against Guinea-Bissau when the first choice was unwell.

He said: “He is a good passer and I explained everything tactically to him.

“He was not really comfortable there but I told him I had confidence in him because he was a good passer of the ball.

“What I didn’t want him to do there was to just carry the ball and start dribbling.

“I think he is better on the wings than as a midfield player but it is also very important to come infield.

“If you stay outside all the time, people might not see your capabilities.

“If you are involved in the middle you have more opportunities of getting the ball and being involved in the play. You have to show what you can do.

“He was quick. He wasn’t as physically strong as now but he was an intelligent player, a very good dribbler.

“He knew exactly what he was doing and could take on one, two, three players at a time.”

It was at that time that Bojang, a highly renowned development coach, gave the youngster some idea of what football could mean.

“He had to take it more seriously.

“Improve in the final part, which is scoring a goal and creating opportunities and numerical advantage.

“He enjoys playing. At that time, he needed more urgency in what he was doing.

“He was having fun. We had to put that seriousness in him and I thought if he could do that, it is a game which could change his whole life and the lives of his family and friends as well.”

Albion have picked up young players from around the world and Bojang said there is more raw talent waiting to be discovered in Gambia.

But he said: “We have to work hard with them on tactics.

“Some of them don’t know tactics at all and the football has to be more organised.

“It takes time and some players here just run everywhere.

“I always tell them that you need that organisation, especially if you want to play in other parts of the world like Yankuba.

“Steve Biko is semi-professional. The Gambian league is only semi-professional.

“I saw Yankuba play for Feyenoord and he has improved significantly from when he was here.”