Joe Clarke was touted as the future of England's batting line-up as a teenager - and he admits such towering predictions went to his head.
The 22-year-old has been a regular name on the list of players in line to step in to rescue the national team when they falter.
An international debut is yet to happen, but with an Ashes series on the horizon, Clarke is making his case with scores of 112 and 97 not out in his first County Championship game since joining Nottinghamshire over the winter.
However, the former Worcestershire batsman insists he has learned from letting his ego get a little too inflated and will instead look to let his bat do the talking for his new club.
Nottinghamshire denied by Yorkshire but only one side looks like being title contenders
"I don't think about England. I was guilty a few years ago of thinking too far ahead," he said shortly before impressing so much against Yorkshire.
"I looked at it a lot. You can be guilty of getting in a bubble.
"I've learned to take each game as it comes. Every player is on a level playing field at the start of the season, so you have to put your hands up to the selectors and say 'pick me'.
"I've got to let the bat do the talking.
"It happened quite quickly for me, breaking through at Worcestershire. I got wrapped up in all the 'you can be an England player' talk.
"It's what every player wants to do, play for England. I got told very quickly not to look too far ahead and treat every game as it comes.
"If you score the runs, that will do your talking."
Clarke would have been the youngest player to score two hundreds in a match for Notts with three more second innings runs.
However, he was denied the chance to get them when skipper Steven Mullaney declared before play resumed on the final day.
Clarke had no issue with that. The team comes first and besides, he admits he is still establishing himself at Trent Bridge.
Five players who will be key to Nottinghamshire in 2019
With all due respect to Worcestershire, he is no longer a big fish in a small pond.
"It's been incredible being here just talking cricket and getting to know international players. It's something I aspire to do," he said.
"To pick their brains and share the dressing room is great. I look at this team and we can win trophies.
"The signings made before me were very exciting. I definitely see us competing in all three formats.
"Those signings made me want to come here, as did Pete Moores. People kept telling me he's the best coach in county cricket.
"It's great to be here, but it's not sunk in.
"I do have that connection with Worcestershire, I guess I always will, but I'm very much a Notts player now."
