Tyreik Wright is forging his own path having idolised fellow Ovens man Liam Miller and partnered Adam Idah to All-Ireland athletics titles.
That effort might lead Ireland under-21 international Wright leaving Aston Villa before his contract expires next year - the Corkman has thrived on first team football in League Two's Colchester United.
As an avid Manchester United fan, Wright says that former Ireland midfielder Miller, who sadly died in 2018, was an inspiration as he looked to make his way in the game.
"One hundred per cent," the 20-year-old reflected. "What he achieved in his career, played senior for Ireland, Manchester United, the team I support...around there, it's all Gaelic football and hurling.
"I know his son and my uncle was best friends with him, they grew up together. I went around to see his mum when he died, but I never knew him personally."
Wright actually preferred Gaelic Football with Eire Og until the age of 12 and, in the athletics world, he won All-Irelands alongside Douglas kid Idah, the Norwich and Ireland striker.
"We were dual partners from underage," he recalled. "We did literally everything - long jump, sprinting, shot putt. He was the best at sprinting and long jump and, well, I just tagged along."
As with Miller, Idah has been an inspiration to Wright.
"I'm very proud of him and what he's achieved in his career so far. I wish him nothing but the best and I'm proud of him."
Wright will consider his options ahead at Villa but has not yet given up on convincing Steven Gerrard he has a future there.
Wright is enjoying a loan spell at Colchester and insists that a run of first team games is vital at this stage in his development.
"I want to play first team football, I want to play Premier League football," said Wright, who is with Jim Crawford's under-21s ahead of their must-win European Championship qualifier in Sweden on Monday.
"If it doesn't happen at Villa, I'll be definitely looking to see what other options are in store. I'll see what happens in pre-season and have a chat with myself about it.
“I’ll go back into pre-season with the first-team, hopefully, and see if they want me to stay or go back out on loan.
"Obviously the end goal is to stay and play Premier League football, but we’ll see how it goes.
With Gerrard coming in he's given a lot of players from the academy a first team opportunity. I know what it takes now, I can see myself taking the leap."
A loan to Salford didn't work out earlier this season, although he made seven starts and nine appearances overall.
"It was a risk and it never worked out," he said.
"I was in the team and then international duty came along, players took their chances when I was away and I never got a sniff after that. That won't happen this time, I feel like I can go back and smash it and play games again.
"Going to Colchester, I had a chat with myself about what I really want in the future, how bad I want it. I'm enjoying it a lot more and I feel like myself again.
"I lost myself a bit at Salford. I haven't been home to Cork in two years, I was missing family a lot, there have been family problems, but you have to deal with it.
"Most of it was game time, I feel like I should be playing every game but it didn't go that way and you move on.
"It was difficult, there were times I was on the phone, not crying but upset, to my mum. She came over this week to see how I was and she was at my game on Monday. Seeing family helps a lot."
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