Craig Forsyth finds himself with a new club boss to impress as well as a national coach to convince.
The former Dundee defender is poised to line up for Scotland against Qatar tonight at Easter Road in a warm-up friendly ahead of the crunch Euro qualifier against the Republic of Ireland a week tomorrow.
Not only is he aiming to show Scots boss Gordon Strachan that he has what it takes to dislodge first pick Andy Robertson from the left-back role but he is also keen to show recently-appointed Derby County gaffer Paul Clement that he should be a key man for him next season.
Forsyth (26) thanked Steve McLaren, from whom former Real Madrid number two Clement took over at Pride Park, for helping to turn him into an international player.
And for now at least his priority is his country as he bids to do enough against the Qataris in order feature in Strachan’s plans for the big one in Dublin.
“There have been a few changes at club level for me with the new manager coming in,” said Forsyth.
“I don’t know much about him (Clement) apart from his previous record.
“He is clearly a top-level coach so it will be good to work with him.
“He comes with a big reputation having worked at the top and coming from Real Madrid can’t be a bad thing.
“I’m sure I can only learn from him, although I played a lot under Steve McLaren.
“I think I came on a lot under Steve so it’s sad to see him go but that was the club’s decision not mine.
“Steve brought on my game to a different level just by playing me regularly and with his coaching which helped me to develop.
“I would say that defensively was the main area where I improved.
“Having played further forward previously, he moved me back to full-back.
“I would probably say he turned me into an international player along with playing regularly in the Championship and in a good team.
“He told me international football should be my target, first of all to get in the squad and, once you’re in there, to try and get a place in the team.”
Forsyth will feature this evening but his long-term aim is to get ahead of ex-Dundee United man Robertson in the pecking order.
“It’s a challenge for me to get a regular place,” he admitted.
“Andy Robertson has done really well when he’s played but I can only try and impress when I get the chance.
“Hopefully, I can get some game time and impress.
“Andy will be in the Championship next season with Hull but I’m not sure if that comes into the manager’s thinking.
“It’s down to the individual performance so I’m sure if Andy is playing well and I’m playing well then it will come down to who the manager wants to play.
“You want to be picked but the manager will have his own ideas and will want to get his ideas across for the Ireland game.”