Barrow Manager Mark Cooper has delivered an update regarding the future of Offrande Zanzala. 

The 25-year-old Congolese striker joined Exeter City on loan earlier this month, scoring on his debut for The Grecians in a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Cooper says the plan for the forward is to return to Barrow once his half-season loan at Exeter comes to an end.

"That's the thinking, but you know what football's like," said Cooper via The Mail. 

"He’s here, he’s got another year after this one, and it’s down to Oz, what he does at Exeter and how he performs down there - he’s putting himself in the shop window."

Zanzala joined Barrow on a free transfer last summer after leaving Carlisle United, and made a good start with The Bluebirds, scoring three goals in his first five league appearances for the club.

However, the goals soon dried up, with Zanzala's last strike for the club coming in November, during Barrow's 4-0 defeat of non-league Banbury United in the FA Cup first round.

Cooper reflected on the progress Zanzala had made since joining the club.

"He’s another who got injured early on and it hampered his progress with us." Cooper said.

"He needs to go there and see if he can get a run of games. To do that he’s got to do well because Exeter have got some really good players, so I hope he does well.

“I think his confidence was low, he’d missed some really good chances, and that happens to a forward, if they miss lots of really good chances it can affect their confidence.

“If the crowd turn against you a little bit it’s difficult to get back. It seemed the logical thing to do was try and get him out to play some games." Cooper explained. 

Zanzala's debut goal did his parent club a favour, helping Exeter to a 2-0 win over his parent club's relegation rivals Scunthorpe United.

Scunthorpe's defeat, ccombined with Barrow's own 2-0 victory over Colchester, means The Bluebirds are now seven points clear of the relegation zone in League Two.

The Verdict 

After a good start at Barrow, the goals and confidence soon dried up for Offrande Zanzala, but he now has another opportunity to impress, and this time for a team challenging at the other end of the table.

Scoring on his debut for play-off chasing Exeter will fill Zanzala with some much needed confidence, but it remains to be seen whether the forward can find the consistency in front of goal at Exeter that he was unable to find at his parent club.