A transfer switch to Aberdeen and three appearances for Scotland, to then being released by two clubs and left unsure of his future in football. Mikey Devlin has been through a lot in the last five years.
The defender, 29, had gone from a successful switch to Pittdorie and becoming a fully-fledged international for his country to several cruel injury-ravaged years - so bad, he even contemplated quitting the game for good.
Devlin - now at Hibs on a short-term deal - has gone through the trauma of countless injury setbacks in recent seasons but has shown his steely resistance even if there were times when he questioned whether it was worth it.
"Unsettling wouldn’t quite touch the sides," said Devlin of a testing few years from leaving Aberdeen to a short-term stint at Fleetwood before again being released in January.
"It’s been difficult. Not just the last year but probably the last year and a bit at Aberdeen as well. It was tough with injuries and uncertainty.
"You know football doesn’t give you security or stability unless you’re at a certain level or a certain type of player.
"You always know this can happen. I think not being fit, going through phases of not trusting your body and not really knowing if you can do what you need to do is difficult.
"It begs the question of whether it’s worth continuing to do it. Because at some point your happiness, your mental health and other things need to come first.
"There were probably periods latterly at Aberdeen that were difficult. But Christmas and January just gone by was the most difficult it’s been.
"At my lowest point, when I was questioning a lot, Hibs came out of it.
"If you’d told me at the start of the process when Broony told me it wasn’t looking good for my contract being renewed – and he fought tooth and nail for me, by the way – that I’d be at Hibs…
"It sums up football in some ways. Even myself, I’d never have seen that coming.
"There have been a couple of times when I wasn’t sure whether it was worth it anymore. But thank god, I did keep going.
"A phone call like the one from Hibs revitalises you a bit. Before then, January was the toughest. The disappointment was too often and it had been the recurring theme for a while.
"I think I’m a different person for it. I always saw myself as someone who was quite resilient and strong.
"Don’t get me wrong, that’s been challenged a bit."
For all Devlin has achieved in his comeback is largely down to his own mental fortitude, he admits it has taken a collective effort from those around him both professionally and on a personal basis.
"I’ve been fortunate to have good people around me, both on and off the pitch," he added.
"Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker were unbelievable at Fleetwood in terms of supporting me and backing me to keep going.
"I’ve been lucky in that sense. Whether it’s for Hibs next year or somewhere else, hopefully, I’ve reaped the rewards of sticking in and turning the corner a bit with my fitness, how I’m feeling in my body and being ready to contribute."
Devlin is yet to play for Hibs since his short-term deal which runs to the end of the season but is confident he is returning to his previous levels after a turbulent period.
However, the defender has made no secret that he would love to extend his time at the club if the opportunity was there.
"For the first time in a while, I feel at that point now," he said of becoming the player he's known as in Scotland. "Of course there are variables in there, but if I get the opportunity I feel I’m capable of being myself again.
"That was probably the biggest challenge. I didn’t know if I could be myself again. I think that’s there now, so I’ve got a platform where I can try and be the best version of myself.
"Whether that’s for Hibs or someone else, time will tell.
"I would love to be [here next year]. I’d never hide that. For all it came out of the blue, now I’m there I would love nothing more than to be there next year as well.
"But that might not be down to me. All I can do is everything I can.
"Even when I came in during January, it felt like a club going in the right direction. I think the manager was really happy with his January window. There are loads of reasons to be optimistic about next year."
