Timi Odusina is urging young footballers to follow in his footsteps and embrace the experience of going out on loan.
Norwich City's Under-23 defender is currently out on loan at National League side Hartlepool United, and has started all of the last seven matches for the Poolies.
Odusina was on loan with AFC Fylde last season, making a Wembley appearance as they won the FA Trophy final over Leyton Orient.
The 20-year-old was reunited with Dave Challinor, his boss at Fylde, when he completed his move to Victoria Park in January.
Odusina returned from a long-term injury earlier this season and played three times for the Canaries youth side in the Premier League 2.
The central defender has made 49 appearances at youth level for City, and has noticed a major difference between under-23s and senior football.
'When I played my first professional game, I realised how different it is to 23s,' he said..
'It's so competitive and you're fighting for something whereas 23s is effectively just friendlies every week.'
Hartlepool sit 11th in the table as they continue their charge for the National League play-offs and remain just a point off 7th place.
Odusina has established himself with positive performances and Hartlepool have won three of their last five in the league.
That has prompted City's youngster to urge more young footballers to step out of their comfort zone in order to experience senior mens football.
'I would encourage young players to do it if they can because you need to start your career somewhere and 23s, I wouldn't go as far as saying it's false but it's a lot different to men's football and I think that's a step a lot of lads could take whether it's on loan or permanently,' he told the Hartlepool Mail.
'You have to get really stuck in here otherwise they'll give it to you - I'm quite an aggressive player so I think it suits me. I already feel like I've improved massively since I've been here so you definitely get the rewards too.'
Odusina is out of contract in the summer.
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