So all it took for Harry Maguire was to come halfway around the world to find himself.
Cast out at Manchester United, Maguire was always going to start for Gareth Southgate in England's opening World Cup match, regardless of whether the Three Lions boss went with a back four or a three. Some players are just constantly picked by international managers regardless of what they do at club level, after all.
Thankfully for the millions watching in England it was the former and not the latter that Southgate decided upon. Iran proved to be nowhere near good enough to need three central defenders at the back, and two might even have been a push.
It was Maguire and John Stones who got the nod, and straight away the United captain looked at ease with a player alongside whom he has played so much football.
Allowed about as gentle an introduction into this World Cup as it was possible to get, Maguire could play the game at his own pace, and you could see his confidence building the longer the first half wore on.
Just as in Russia in 2018 his threat from set-pieces is an enormous weapon for this England side to have, and he should clearly have been awarded a penalty for an early tangle in the Iran box. And if he didn't deserve one, Harry Kane did.
No matter for England, they were always going to be too good enough for their limited opponents, who would have fallen behind had Maguire been a bit more fortunate when his header crashed against the bar. Jude Bellingham might have been inspired by that, for it was his headed effort which soon gave England the lead.
There was no turning back from there, and with Iran - roared on by an excitable fanbase - restricted to pot shots from distance as they forlornly chased a way back into a game they never really had any chance in.
Two more goals arrived for England before half-time, and then they almost strutted back onto the pitch for the second period with Maguire looking like he was enjoying himself the most.
One moment spoke volumes as, after a nervy error from Kieran Trippier, he gloriously swept up the ball and burst forward to start an England attack, one which should have featured Kane giving him the ball as he marauded past the visiting defence.
It was Maguire at his best, and a glimpse of what we and Manchester United saw from him back in 2018.
As ever with him though, there was soon to be a caveat.
Mehdi Taremi's run off the back of him for the Iran goal was not a pretty sight, but it soon appeared that Maguire had been dazed then as he sat on the ground.
He was to leave the game shortly after, although that blot shouldn't detract from an excellent performance.
As ever with him though, there are always caveats.
