Aidan Borland swapped the Celtic academy for Aston Villa's three years ago, and now has inspiration in his quest to reach the first-team.
The highly-rated midfielder has captained Villa's under-21s side in Premier League 2 and is currently on loan at League Two side Accrington Stanley after a spell at Swindon Town last season.
He was part of Villa's FA Youth Cup winning side last season, playing in the 3-1 win over Manchester City in the final. A teammate from that game, George Hemmings, has broken into the first team this season.
That has given Borland hope he can also make his way into Unai Emery's plans.
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The 19-year-old told the Daily Record: "I think it's just about doing everything right that when the opportunity comes around, whether it's training or on the pitch that you take your opportunity and he's obviously done that really well this season with coming in and keeping his place. It is definitely one for all the academy boys to see and push towards.”
It helps that Borland has a fellow Scot looking out for him at Villa Park, and also that he is the club captain.
The teenager revealed John McGinn has been an excellent mentor and sounding board ever since he made the daunting move south at the age of just 16.
He added: "It's been great ever since I went down. He's looked after me and looked out for me on the training pitch and gave me his number to reach out if I ever needed anything on and off the pitch. So there's no better role model than the captain of your country.
“Also being the captain of your club, as someone to look up to and obviously helps as well having boys through the academy that I've known from a young age, being Scottish players as well. So it definitely helps you settle in.”
