Darragh Nugent has been hailed for the uncomplicated approach that has made him a rising star at Shamrock Rovers.
And Rovers boss Stephen Bradley reckons Nugent is an inspiration for loads of kids who are late developers.
The 23-year-old flies under the radar at the Hoops, where he progressed from the academy, but his team-mates, manager and supporters know his worth.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said: “Everyone has their own path and their own story.
“What I like about Darragh is he wouldn’t have been seen as the best one at his age group all the way up, but I’ve seen something a few years back that I really liked.”
Nugent was a schoolboy with Templeogue United and then St Joseph’s Boys before going to UCD’s underage setup.
But then he moved to Rovers and has benefited from a half-season loan at Longford Town and a full campaign at Drogheda United.
He made six league appearances for Rovers before those loans, but has 33 more since returning to the club - and 14 of those have come in 15 games this season.
Nugent, who is from Knocklyon, said: “With the players we have, you want to play more than you do but you have to be patient and take your chance when you get it.
“This is the longest run of games I’ve had here so you need to be patient. I’ve been at home all the way up and came to the academy here under Stephen Rice.
“Coaches and scouts look for different things and I was a late developer. I didn't get too bogged down in it.
“I always just kept thinking, ‘keep training and keep working, and you might get a chance’ and I still think like that now.”
Nugent added: “I was never capped at international level, I never played in the Kennedy Cup or anything like that.
“There were a lot of boys my age going away on trials to England but some of them are not even playing now. But it didn’t bother me. I’m a late developer with loads to learn.”
Bradley hailed Nugent - and his father - for sticking to the development plan that Rovers mapped out and feels the midfielder is reaping the rewards.
The Hoops boss said: “Darragh’s path is one that a lot of kids could follow with a good attitude and mindset. I love what he is in the group, he just gets on with his work.”
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