Aidan Connolly admits seeing his pal Andy Robertson light up the Barclays Premier League has inspired him to kick on at Dundee United.
Connolly arrived at Tannadice along with Robertson from Queen’s Park just over a year ago but their careers have taken different paths since then.
While Connolly’s first team appearances have been restricted, Robertson’s star has risen has risen.
The left-back quickly became one of the first names on manager Jackie McNamara’s team sheet, then broke into the Scotland set-up and finally made it on to the big stage in England with Hull City in a deal worth almost £3 million.
Connolly has had to be patient while watching his mate do so well but he is confident his time will come.
“It was great to see Andy on Match of the Day on Saturday night, clearing the ball off the line and putting in some decent crosses,” said the frontman, who this week agreed a deal to keep him at the club until the summer of 2016.
“I keep in touch with him and he has been saying he has been really enjoying it. It is a different lifestyle down there but he tells me has been working hard.
“I have known Andy for five or six years now and being at Queen’s Park together I got to see what he was like as a person and a player.
“It has been hard for me, Andy going away, because I came to United with him.
“At the start I thought I would have had to be patient and wait my turn but I then saw Andy do so well. So it’s been really nice to see him get his chance and take it.
“Hopefully, when I get my opportunity at United I will take it too. I have to just keep working away in training and bide my time.
“There will be injuries and suspensions so I have to be ready to step in when I am asked to do so.
“I am still young. There is a lot of competition at United but an opportunity will come for me.”
Discussing Connolly’s new deal earlier in the week, McNamara said: “Aidan has really improved his level of performance since the start of pre-season and has shown he is ready to make the step up to the first team.
“If he continues to train hard and give the same level of effort and commitment, he will be a star for this club for years to come.”