Barry Maguire is eager to thrive at Motherwell after not making the grade at Hamilton Accies - and can't believe he's been involved in Europa League and Scotland under-21 football.
The defensive midfielder moved to Accies from Calderbraes Boys' Club, but ended up at Moorlands Boys' Club in Uddingston after being dropped by the New Douglas Park.
However, Maguire made the switch to Motherwell in 2017 and made his first start for the club in the 4-0 win over Ross County on Saturday.
And the 22-year-old hopes he has done enough to keep his place when Motherwell travel to Livingston on Saturday.
He said: "I was at Hamilton Accies as a youngster for a few years. It didn't work out, obviously, and I went back to boys' club football before I took the step to Motherwell.
"I was at Calderbraes, then Accies, then I went back to a boys' club called Moorlands in Uddingston then made the step up to Motherwell.
"I probably couldn't have predicted then that I'd be playing Europa League and under-21 football. Obviously you strive to do that when you're younger but to actually do it, is crazy when you stop and think about it.
"There are a few boys who were around me as a kid, like Shaun Rooney [who is at St Johnstone], so it was always competitive when I was growing up.
"I think if you asked a lot of the boys what level they'd want to play at they would have said a level like this, but to actually be doing it is massive."
Maguire added: "It's a big positive getting on the park in the first place on Saturday but I feel like I did well and hopefully that's good enough to get into the team again.
"I got a run-out with Scotland under-21s and that that was a boost, especially after having a bit of time off that we shouldn't have had.
"The first start is big for me, it's something I've been trying to do all season, and I just know that I have to bide my time and if I get the chance, try and take it, but I feel as if I did well on Saturday.
"I want to build on that now, take each game as it comes, and when I do get game-time try to do the best that I can.
"We take the positives from that game and just go from there."
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