Seven years on from his Premier League debut, Enda Stevens has taken the long route to become a Premier League regular.
A staple at left-back for a blazing Sheffield United team, things have changed a lot since Ireland's starting left-back made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa in 2012.
Life at Villa Park started well, a spell with the reserves was followed by a chance in the Premier League.
He made his first league start in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Bramall Lane. His third game was as part of the back four who conceded five away to champions Manchester City.
However, Stevens made just four more league appearances in five years at Villa Park, spending his time on loan between the third and fourth divisions of English football.
Speaking to Off The Ball, he admitted that he wasn't always the "best professional" during his time at Aston Villa but the pressure he put on himself brought him from the League Two back to English football's top flight.
He has a changed diet while the gym, he says, has been equally important in his emergence as one of the star's of Sheffield United's impressive start to the Premier League.
In the meantime, Stevens has cemented himself as Ireland's left-back, a position that had been one of the side's weakest in recent years.
Asked if the pressure of playing for his country is ever too much or the criticism too harsh, Stevens disagreed saying it was such rhetoric that keeps him motivated.
"Yes and no, because the fans are the one who keep the players on their toes.
"We don't want to settle for second best. That's right from the fans. They want to see the nation doing well and we want to do well for them too.
"It's the pressure you know that comes playing for your country, but that's what you want you need that pressure as a footballer."
It's something, Stevens says he wouldn't change in his bid to get Ireland to next summer's European Championships.
"Fans are entitled to their opinion, they want to support their country at a major tournament and we want to play at the major tournaments, so they've got to keep pushing us on and vice versa. We need to be pushing them on and giving them a bit of success to celebrate and see us winning games."
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