He's a long way from home but Allan Campbell has Scotland aspirations at the centre of his Premier League mission.
The midfielder won his first cap for the nation in June away at Armenia after a stellar first year at Luton Town, who he joined in 2021 after establishing himself as one of Motherwell's finest academy products of late with 160 appearances. The Hatters have been punching above their weight in the English Championship and are just a few points outside the promotion play-off spots they found themselves in under Nathan Jones last season.
He's gone to Southampton now though and Rob Edwards is the new man in charge, but the goal remains the same for Campbell. He wants to go to the Premier League and make himself a navy blue regular. With that being one of Steve Clarke's spoilt choice areas, he knows it won't be easy, but the hard-working battler has no doubt his work ethic and ability can get him where he wants to be.
Campbell told Mailsport : "Getting a taste of it in the summer just makes you want more. The competition is high with some quality players, so I need to keep my head down, work hard and perform well at Luton.
"It's grafting away and I hopefully get another chance. As long as I am playing at Luton every week to a high standard, that's all I can really do. It is one of the toughest positions so I just need to keep fighting for my chance.
"The first half of the season has been good. It's a crazy league, you can win a couple and go straight up but you get beat in a couple and before you know it, you're down near the bottom.
"It's why I wanted to come down to the Championship, the quality of player is really high. To challenge yourself against these guys is what you want.
"It's a mad league and with a new manager coming in, it's been refreshing with a new face and voice. I'm looking forward to the second half of the season.
"Everybody wants to get to the top. It's been a great challenge and I am really enjoying my football. All you want to do when you're younger is to be a regular and to play so much has been class. But I want to stay injury-free and improve all the time.
"The Premier League is the best league in the world and it'd be silly to say you don't want to get there. That's the goal, to get to the Premier League.
"I am somebody who wants to challenge myself and to face clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, that's what you want. That is the target so I'll just keep working hard to hopefully reach that next level."
Comparisons with playing style and journey have been made to one Scotland standout, John McGinn. The Aston Villa captain left Hibs for the English second tier and hasn't looked back, now on the road to Hampden Hall of Fame status.
Like Campbell, he's a box-to-box midfielder who wears his heart on his sleeve, although the Hatters man doesn't quite have the same backside to hold off defenders with. Regardless, he's been a source of Scottish inspiration.
Campbell explained: "Even in terms of the journey, coming down south, doing well in the Championship and kicking on into the Premier League making an impact, he's been a great help.
"He's a character, a funny guy. He really made me feel welcome and I look up to him in the way he plays as he is a quality player. You have to be if you want to be a regular in the Premier League. To have any comparison with him is brilliant."
Closer to ML1, getting the chance to run out with former Motherwell teammate and close friend David Turnbull in Armenia is something the Luton star looks back on with fondness.
Both midfield players - Turnbull now at Celtic - were the heart of Stephen Robinson's successful academy drive during his tenure as Motherwell manager and getting to play with his mate once more was a dream come true.
But he doesn't want it to be a flash in the pan experience. And with a 100% attitude, Campbell reckons the pair's meetings on the national team scene will be a case of when, not if.
The 24-year-old stated: "I think I came on the last 10-15 minutes and he was on just before me. It's mad to think you go from playing with each other at Motherwell in the Youth Cup final and then you're playing in Armenia with the Scotland squad.
"He's a good pal of mine and I am glad he's doing well with Celtic and getting his chances with Scotland. Hopefully in the years to come we have many more appearances in the squad together.
"It's a huge honour and for both of us and to do it regularly would be class rather than it be a one-off. Hopefully that is the case that we get more appearances together, and I am sure we will. Both of us work hard and if we keep that up then it will be inevitable."
At his first club, it's been a season of change. Former teammate Steven Hammell is now in the dugout and he looks set to hand academy prospects like Campbell once was their chance at Fir Park.
The former academy director is being tipped to shine in the hotseat by someone he knows well: "I always keep an eye out on Motherwell and I still stay in touch with a few of the boys. I am glad Hammy's had the chance to go in there as he's a good pal of mine having played with him there as well.
"I always keep an eye out on the results and I'll watch the games when I can. I am sure he will go there and be successful. I've watched some of the games and they play some great football.
"Hopefully in the second part of the season, they kick on. With his academy connection, he'll know a lot of the younger players coming through and he's given a lot of boys a chance.
"He won't be scared to put them in if he thinks they're good enough and he's always been like that. I am sure you will see a good few more get their chance, which they will then hopefully kick on and do well."
