Gary Mackay-Steven has opened up on the differences between Scottish football and the MLS.
The winger joined New York City from Aberdeen last month and is likely to start his first game against Sporting Kansas City.
The former Dundee United, Celtic and Aberdeen star come up against old team-mate Johnny Russell in that game and admits he'll thank him for persuading him to head Stateside and then look to beat him.
And Mackay-Steven has revealed he sought advice from Russell - who has scored 17 goals in 37 league starts since he joined from Derby County last year - before deciding to quit Pittodrie for the Big Apple.
He said: "Johnny couldn’t speak highly enough of the league, the standard, the facilities and the level of training.
"He feels he’s improved as a player, and certainly from the snippets I’ve seen of him, he’s kicked on again. I’m looking forward to catching up with him."
And the 28-year-old insists he's slowly starting to adapt to life in the USA, compared with Scotland.
He said: "Back home it was was quite physical and fast-paced. Here it’s very technical and also quick.
"I knew that this league was a great standard. There’s a lot of great players here, technical players, it’s a huge country and certainly New York - although it’s a new club - the facilities here already are second to none.
"I knew that from afar, and certainly it’s hit home being here how big an organisation it is.
"Right now, it’s head down. And when I get my fitness levels up. first and foremost I want to certainly make an impression on the team and help every way I can.”
