Conor McManus admits joining Gillingham felt like the “perfect opportunity” - and the Irishman could hardly have wished for a better start to life in the Football League.
The 21-year-old made his first league start for the Gills on Saturday after moving from Brentford, scoring just seven minutes into his full debut against Northampton Town.
Conor McManus celebrates in front of his parents after scoring an early goal for Gillingham on Saturday Picture: @Julian_KPI
McManus joined Gillingham for an undisclosed fee this summer after four years with Brentford, where he had been playing for their B team.
His move to Kent was driven by a desire to make the step into senior football - and he made an immediate impact as he helped the Gills end their wait for a goal in a 1-1 draw.
“If I could have dreamed of a full debut, it would have gone something like that,” he said.
“I was obviously disappointed not to get the result, and I think that's something that I probably would have swapped a goal for, if I'm being honest but it was always positive to get on the scoresheet and to help the team perform, but little things to build on.”
McManus had already been on Gillingham’s radar before a pre-season game at Brentford this summer.
He played against the Gills for Brentford B, with manager Gareth Ainsworth watching on - and that performance helped convince the manager to make his move.
“We played them in a pre-season friendly at Brentford’s training ground. I spoke to my previous manager before and he was like, ‘listen, they're looking at you. If you do well, you have a chance to go’,” said McManus.
“Once I heard that, I was playing with a different type of motivation. I just went out there and did my thing.
“I feel like in football, there's so much external pressure. There's no need to put any internal pressure on yourself. I thought, ‘I'll just go out there and play my game, bring energy’ and obviously I did well enough to impress and I'm obviously here now.”
Ainsworth has said he sees a little bit of himself in the way McManus plays - something the youngster believes made Gillingham an easy choice.
“I knew it would be a good opportunity to play men's football. I knew he believed in me. I knew he wanted to push me forward,” he said.
“Coming here was a no-brainer, where I saw myself developing under an experienced manager who's done it at all levels. You'd be silly to turn that down if I'm being honest with you.”
McManus had spent four years at Brentford after moving to England as a teenager, but felt the time was right to leave in search of regular men's football.
“If I'm being honest, the last few years have been kind of injury ridden and I've stayed away from injuries for the last year or so. I think it just made sense,” he said.
“I needed that next step in my career. I was looking for an opportunity and in my opinion, the perfect opportunity was to come here.”
Conor McManus made his first start in the league on Saturday for the Gills against Northampton Town at Priestfield Picture: @Julian_KPI
His first taste of League Two football has already shown him the difference between senior and under-21 football.
“It's a completely different game. This is a bit more cutthroat and it's a bit more physical. It's taken a little bit to get used to, but hopefully over the next few weeks and months I can grow into my role,” he said.
“There's something completely different about playing men's football. Tactically and technically, under-21 football is its own thing and it serves a purpose up until a certain point.
“I think as a young player, you want to go out and test yourself against lads who've been around it for 10-15 years, who've played 300-400 games.
“You can learn the tactics and technical side of things but I think you learn equally as much when you're surrounding experienced players like Omar Beckles and Bradley Dack.”
The opportunity came earlier than expected because of Kadeem Harris's serious knee injury.
McManus has stepped into the side following the winger's ACL injury and is determined to make the most of his chance while also supporting his team-mate.
“I'm absolutely gutted [for him]. I've had incredibly hard times with injuries as well. I know how not only physically difficult it is, I think mentally as well,” he said.
“It can be so mentally draining doing the same thing day in, day out. Kadeem’s a top professional. He's an unbelievable person as well.
“I think we've an unbelievable group in the changing room that have got around him already and will support him through the whole journey. Once he comes back, he'll be a massive asset to us.
“Obviously, it's not nice. You don't like injuries. Nobody likes injuries. But I think for myself, you just kind of have to be ready no matter what.”
McManus certainly was ready when his opportunity arrived.
His seventh-minute header ended Gillingham's wait for a goal after they had failed to score in their opening three league and cup games.
Nick Freeman provided the cross and McManus crept in at the back post to head home.
“Nick put an unbelievable ball in,” he said. “I crept around the back post and snuck in the header. It's been a while since I scored. I don't usually get in those positions.”
There was an extra reason for McManus to celebrate, too.
His parents had flown over from Ireland for their first Gillingham game and happened to be sitting in the corner where he scored.
He said: “The cross did 99% of the work. I just had to guide it in there. My parents were actually in that corner so it was the perfect side for me personally.
“So I was really happy to get the goal. It was their first Gillingham game and I ran straight into their corner [to celebrate].”
Conor McManus joined Gillingham from Brentford for an undisclosed fee at the start of August Picture: Gillingham FC
For McManus, the goal was also a landmark moment after years of trying to make the leap from academy football to the professional game.
He said: “When I first moved over I was just a kid. There was so much change happening. I moved over at 17 on two weeks’ notice.
“My life went from being in school with my friends to playing for a Premier League academy. I think for the first six months to a year you kind of have a bit of imposter syndrome. You feel like, do I deserve to be here? But I worked hard and I got what I deserved. I got there eventually.
“All the staff at Brentford were nothing but unbelievable to me. My former managers and coaches, they really kind of took me in. They saw I wanted to work hard.”
Brentford had become home for McManus during his time in England, making his decision to leave difficult.
“I made some friends for life there,” he said. “The coaching staff were unbelievable with me. It just helped you settle in.
“Coming here, I got the same vibe instantly. I knew that it was going to be difficult leaving Brentford but like I said to my mum the other night, it feels like I've just fallen into the perfect situation twice.”
And now the challenge is to turn a dream debut into a regular place in Ainsworth's team.
McManus is one of a number of young players pushing for first-team opportunities at Gillingham this season, alongside the likes of Lamin Sillah, Sam Tabares, Zane Albarus and Sheldon Kendall.
“For me, coming here, minutes is the main thing,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to earn it because I knew the squad here was incredibly good and it was kind of set and it would be difficult to get in.
“It's the same everywhere. You have to earn your place and I wouldn't want it any other way. I want to earn my place and I want to work hard for the team, for the fans and for the manager.
“If I can continue to do that, I think it's a win-win relationship. The fans and the players and the manager and the club get a player who wants to play for them and work hard and on the flip side of things, I improve.”
The goal also lifted a weight from the Gills, who had struggled to find the net in their opening matches.
“The goal is massive. It's just a bit of an icebreaker. I feel like it's been coming for so long. We've had chances upon chances and we've been unlucky. It just hasn't quite fallen for us.
“I feel like it's just going to be like a bus you'll be waiting around for ages and then they'll all come at once.
“We have the confidence in the changing room. We have the confidence in ourselves that it's all going to click and when it does, we're going to be interesting.”
And after finally getting his first taste of League Two football, McManus is desperate for more.
“It's something I've been dreaming of for so long,” he said. “I think every young lad who's in the under-21s always wants to get that taste and to play in front of fans and fans as good as ours.
“That's something that I've wanted to do since I've come into the building. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
“It's just something that I want to build on and work towards getting even more starts under my belt.”
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