Bali Mumba gives fascinating insight into his development and position as he opens up on first Sunderland loan so far

It was supposed to be a day for a red-and-white takeover, 5,000 at Blackpool and a pivotal day in the race for promotion.

Excitement and tension, joy or anger.

Football, though, did just about carry on and for one of Sunderland’s talented youngsters, on the table was a crucial role in one of the biggest games you could find being played anywhere in the country.

South Shields held a nine-point lead at the top of the Northern Premier League but their visitors were FC United of Manchester, sitting in second and with a game in hand.

Boosted no doubt by the lack of action elsewhere, over 3,000 fans packed into Mariners Park.

These are early days in Bali Mumba’s first ever loan spell but this was another impressive performance and for his team, a crucial 5-3 win.

Mumba was on the scoresheet late on, days after scoring a vital winner on his first start away at Nantwich Town.

The 18-year-old has long been one of the brightest talents in Sunderland’s academy, breaking through into the senior set-up at the beginning of last season.

After a whirlwind year, the decision was taken to give him time and space to develop in the U23 environment for the first part of this campaign.

This is a very different kind of test and a timely one, too.

As he well knows, there is no replicating the rigours of senior football, particularly at this pressurised stage of the season.

After that Nantwich clash a smiling Mumba laughed as he discussed the various bruises he’d picked up throughout the contest.

He had been playing superbly and that drew the expected attention from his opponents.

It’s a challenge he seems to be relishing.

“I'm buzzing to get the goal again,” he said.

“It's a great feeling and it was a great opportunity to play in front of so many fans, which you don't really get at U23s level.

“I really enjoyed it.

“The loan has been good so far,” he added.

“It's been a test for me. I came here for a reason, which was to get game-time.

“To get that physicality, it's been very different, similar to the first team really with that physicality.

“I'm used to that in terms of training with the first team and playing some games with them, so as soon as the opportunity came I was into it.”

One of the more interesting aspects of Mumba’s development so far has been the debate over where he will ultimately play his football.

Initially he roared onto the scene as a technical midfielder, seemingly well suited to the modern demands of that position.

This season, he has featured mostly as a full-back.

It’s a position in which he, by his own admission, has much to learn and improve, but one that could also bring out the best of his dynamic ability in possession.

South Shields have thus far carved out a different role for him.

He made his debut on the left flank and though he has occasionally switched sides, he is playing his football in wide, attacking roles.

After that goal on his first start, joint-manager Lee Picton marvelled at his ability one versus one, particularly at this level.

It’s a role he’s enjoying, and one that he feels could prove to be useful even if he does indeed end up back in a full-back role at Sunderland.

“The manager is using me as an attacking threat, playing me more in the wide areas and the midfield,” he said.

“He just sees me as someone who can be a dangerous player.

“With my attacking ability I can cause problems and get some goals that lead to wins.

“I'll be going back to Sunderland with that experience of playing attacking football.

“I've been playing full-back at Sunderland and that will help me [in that position].

“As a full-back now, you need to have that attacking ability,” he added.

“You look at players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and a lot of the other full backs, they've got that attacking side to their game.

“So I think this will help me quite a lot.”

Whether full-back is indeed his long-term future remains unclear.

“It's a difficult question for me to answer but right now, the way things are going, yeah, I'd say full back [is his best position],” he said.

“I've got used to it a lot this season playing there for the U23s, I enjoy it.

“I think the attacking side of my game is getting there, but I do need to work on the defensive side, off the ball and shape.

“Once I get that, I think I've got the potential to be a good full-back.”

Mumba is one of a number of Sunderland youngsters enjoying the pressures of senior football, at various levels.

Jordan Hunter is another enjoying a good spell at South Shields, while Jack Diamond has been impressive in the National League at Harrogate Town.

Mumba’s remarkable exposure to senior football at just 16, and the subsequent transfer rumours that brought, placed him in a bracket where expectations have been high.

This could be an important stepping stone, with the added incentive of helping to deliver a memorable promotion for his hometown club.

The Northern Premier League have subsequently announced the suspension of their fixtures, leaving Mumba and Shields waiting for further developments like everybody else.

When the league resumes, he will have a prominent role in attempting to secure a vital promotion. It can only be beneficial, for him, his hometown, and his parent club.