From wrestling with the Welders to scorching Joshua Kimmich at Windsor Park – it has been quite a journey for Gavin Whyte.
Last summer, the Cardiff City forward was lining out for Crusaders in a low key pre-season friendly with Harland and Wolff at Seaview.
Fast forward 14 months and the livewire winger, who joined Oxford United later that summer before moving to the Bluebirds last month, was blazing a trail against Germany.
“I think Michael put me on to scare them with my pace and I think I did that,” said Whyte.
Not half. Just ask Kimmich, who was left in the Cardiff new boy’s wake during one sweeping second-half move in Monday’s frantic Euro 2020 qualifier at Windsor .
Skipping past the Bayern Munich star, Whyte teed up the raiding Stuart Dallas whose low first time shot narrowly missed the target.
“I knew I had the beating of him because I’m quicker and I also got a good touch – I managed to get away from him,” he said.
“Stuarty just put it a bit wide of the post, but he was brilliant the whole night. I love working with him down the right flank.”
Whyte was delighted to be Michael O’Neil l’s first throw of the dice from the bench on the hour mark as he chased an equaliser against the Germans.
Marcel Halstenberg had given Joachim Low’s men a 48th minute lead before Serge Gnabry killed the game off in added time with a close range finish.
“I was warming up and actually thinking ‘I hope I’m the first sub’,” said Whyte. “I was buzzing when Michael called me over and told me I was going on.
“I got more minutes than I expected and I’m just glad he put me on the pitch. I thought I did alright when I came on and I gave it all I could.”
On a painful defeat that saw the Germans leapfrog Northern Ireland on goal difference at the top of Group C, Whyte said: “I think it’s a big opportunity missed.
“We had a few good chances in the game and should have scored early on, but you know the quality Germany have, they’re one of the best countries in the world.
“It’s a frustrating result, but I do think we played well against Germany and we have to bring that level of performance into our remaining games.”
Next up is a trip to face Holland in Rotterdam next month, before the pool concludes with a double header against the Germans and Dutch in November.
“We have three massive games left and we’re going to give it all we have,” said Whyte.
“It’ll be tough, but we know we’ve got to get some wins on the board.”
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