New Dundee loan signing Riccardo Calder is looking to follow the Jack Grealish route into Aston Villa’s first team.
The pair have come through the Villa youth ranks together, and Calder has seen his peer take full advantage of a loan away from Birmingham.
After being farmed out to League One Notts County, Grealish returned to Villa Park and took the Premier League by storm, starring in a run to the FA Cup final and sparking an international tug-of-war between Ireland and England for his services.
So Calder has seen close-up the rewards that could follow from making a name for himself at Dens Park.
“I needed to get out on loan to get experience,” the flying winger admitted.
“Playing 21s football over and over again can only take you so far.
“Being away from home will be new for me and playing in a different football environment.
“I didn’t know it was going to be Dundee but I knew it was the manager’s plan to send me out on loan and I want to make it work.
“This is my first loan so it’s a really exciting time.
“I’ve been at Villa since I was nine.
“Jack Grealish has come through the ranks at the same time.
“He’s done really well for himself after making it into the first team. He’s the one to look up to.
“He’s done well in his loan spells and taken his chance. He’s a good benchmark. If he can do it, others can. You have to put the work in.”
Calder has been doing a crash course on the Scottish Premier League, and has liked what he’s seen.
“I didn’t know much about Scottish football but I’ve done my research since I knew I was coming up here,” the 19-year-old said.
“I didn’t see the Dundee derby on TV a few weeks ago but I’ve been watching some clips on Youtube.
“The crowds look good and the players are decent. I’m really looking forward to it.”
There has already been a Scottish influence on Calder’s career.
“Paul Lambert put me on the bench a few times and let me train with the first team,” he explained.
“He’s a decent manager. I’ve got a lot to thank him for. He’s one of a lot of coaches who have got me to this stage in my career.
“And I think Alan Hutton had spoken to a few people about me.”
New boss Paul Hartley described Calder as a throw-back type of winger who thrives on attacking his opposition full-back.
The man himself, who is “up there” with the quickest at Villa Park, agrees.
“I see myself as a winger,” he pointed out. “If I see a space I go for it. There’s no point holding back.
“I want to gain as much experience as I can at Dundee, get in the team, and hopefully impress the gaffer and the fans.”