Adrian Segecic has credited a sink or swim loan move to Holland as the reason behind his breakout campaign which has led to growing clamour for the Sydney FC playmaker to be handed a maiden Socceroos call-up.
The 20-year-old is arguably the most in-form young player in Australia with 11 goals and two assists in his last 15 games for Sydney in both the A-League Men and the Asian Champions League 2.
His output is all the more remarkable when considering roughly half of his appearances in those games have come as a substitute for Ufuk Talay's side.
Segecic has always been touted as a player of immense potential for Sydney - he was training with the club's first team as a 16-year-old while juggling his studies.
But with first-team opportunities limited under Talay's predecessor Steve Corica, Segecic decided last season he would be better taking a loan move to Dutch second-division outfit Dordrecht.
"I thought I couldn't stay here for another year playing five to 10 minutes, I knew it wouldn't benefit me," Segecic told AAP.
"Within three days I was overseas. It was a really easy transition for me, I thought it would have been a lot more difficult.
"The weather hits you different, playing on frozen pitches does take a toll.
"But that year was a massive learning experience for me as well, I built so much confidence, playing so many games against some of the best players in the world.
"Coming back (to Sydney) ... maybe before I'd play the safe route but I think now I'm so confident, I knew coming back I could be so much better having that belief in myself… That has changed everything."
The concern for Sydney, who face Macarthur in the ALM on Saturday, will be how much longer they can see Segecic lighting it up in sky blue.
The creative maverick is off contract and while talks have begun over a new deal, Segecic's form is only going to add to the interest in his services.
"But I think gametime is the biggest thing for young players," Segecic said.
"You don't want to go overseas and not be playing."
Talay has made it known his club wants to keep Segecic, whose value may increase further if he can fight his way into the Socceroos squad for next month's crunch World Cup qualifiers with Indonesia and China.
Segecic qualifies for Croatia but is adamant his future lies in the green and gold.
"The biggest thing for me is getting to start back to back games this season," Segecic said.
"For me to be starting five or six games in a row is the next challenge.
"It (playing for Australia) is a massive honour. I've represented Australia at every single age group apart from the Socceroos.
"It's a big thing, so clearly I'm doing well if people are talking about the Socceroos."
