Ethan Erhahon believes taking on “monster” teams in League One will help him catch the eye of England’s biggest clubs.
And the former St Mirren midfielder feels he’s now on the perfect stage to showcase his talents and play his way up to the English Premier League.
Some Saints supporters were last month surprised to see the 21-year-old make the switch to Lincoln City, who currently sit mid-table in League One, believing he could have joined a more established team higher up the chain.
But Erhahon firmly believes he’s in the right spot to make a name for himself in the English game and follow in the footsteps of fellow former Buddies John McGinn and Kenny McLean, who both had spells in the English Championship before cracking their way into the top flight.
And, speaking exclusively to Renfrewshire Live Sport from his new home in Lincoln, Erhahon also revealed St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson urged him to go somewhere he’d get the game time he needed to ensure he didn’t fade into the background down south.
Erhahon said: “When you look at the top end of this league, there are some monster teams in there. It wasn’t long ago teams like Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Bolton were in the Premier League. There are some massive teams in League One and I don’t think some people realise that.
“It’s very, very hard to go from St Mirren straight to the Premier League or Championship. Even though we’re having an amazing season, there’s still a stigma that if you don’t play for one of the biggest Scottish teams – Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen – then you can’t make that move straight away.
“My view is that if you’re good enough to get there, you will one day. You just have to look at someone like Jamie Vardy, who went all the way from non-league to the Premier League.
“A lot of big clubs will be watching players in League One and that was part of my thinking long term. First and foremost it’s all about giving my all for Lincoln.
“Robbo told me not to go and be a spare part somewhere. He said I should prioritise going somewhere I was needed and would hopefully become a key player.
“I felt like Lincoln was the right move and now I just need to knuckle down and show them what I can do.”
Erhahon didn’t waste any time in impressing his new employer and their supporters. The Scotland Under-21 international pulled the midfield strings on his debut, picking up the man-of-the-match award in Lincoln’s dominant 3-0 win against Accrington Stanley last weekend.
While he’s having to do without the company of his beloved pooch Coco for the time being, Erhahon is confident he’s made the right move for his career.
But he admits it was a strange feeling lining up in another club’s kit after spending more than 15 years with the Buddies.
Erhahon said: “I was very happy to get that first win here. I didn’t feel any more pressure because it was my debut, because every game you feel the pressure to please the club and the fans.
“It [playing for another team] did feel strange all the way up until kick-off, but as soon as the game started I was just fully focused on the match itself.
“I’m living by myself at the moment. The club have got me somewhere which is 15 minutes from the training ground which is great. It’s also big enough for my family to come and visit as well. I don’t have Coco with me yet, my mum’s looking after her at the moment but I’ll get her down here eventually.
“It’s quite a young team at Lincoln so I’m settling in well so far. They’ve given me a bit of stick about being Scottish, but it’s nothing I can’t handle!
“I can’t thank St Mirren enough for everything they have done for me. They gave me that first platform to play football when I was a kid and we had some great times together. I’d always said I wanted to test myself in England and now it just felt like the right time to do it.”
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