Darragh Burns will always have Chris Forrester’s seal of approval because of his free spirit approach to the game.
It takes one to know one, of course.
As a teen, Forrester honed his skills as a street footballer and sees a bit of himself in the young winger who was called up to the Ireland U21s for the first time this week.
“They've kinda got drowned out of the game,” said Saints ace Forrester of that type of creative player.
“Everyone just wants a clear vision. Workaholics. Probably over-coached. Everyone has a badge these days and everyone has an opinion on how the game should be played.
"If you watch kids play, they just go out and do what they want to do and enjoy it.
“Obviously, there’s a side to the game whereby you need to get results when you get older.
“But the freedom and the off-the-cuff stuff has been drowned out of the game. So it's refreshing to see someone like Darragh coming through.
“The freshness, the off-the-cuff kinda play. It's good to see."
Burns, 19, is one of the league’s brightest talents and the Dubliner scored a screamer on live TV in the opening game of the season.
And having switched his international allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic, was a late call-up to the squad for Ireland’s win in Sweden on Tuesday.
But ahead of tonight’s clash with Drogheda United, Forrester, 29, feels Burns has a good head on his shoulders too.
“"I'm delighted for Darragh as he's a great fellah and an unbelievable player,” added the former Peterborough United captain, Aberdeen and Bohemians man.
"He's a funny guy and has an abundance of confidence.
"I only said to Bermo (Ian Bermingham) there, he has confidence in everything he does, even his looks which are a bit…I don't know!
"I'm only joking. He’s a great player and I was delighted he was up with the under-21s, even though he didn't feature in Sweden. He's in there or thereabouts.
“He's been good for us this season and last season too. It's just about stepping on and progressing.
"Ultimately, I think his aim is to go away and if he keeps playing the way he’s playing it won't be too far off."
And asked if he sees a bit of himself in Burns, Forrester laughed and said "I wasn't that arrogant. No, I'm only messing.
"The confidence, the bravery to try to do anything. The freedom of it. Yeah, I can see a bit of me in him. He has my (old) No 17, which I thought Pats had retired!
“He has better left foot than me, but he would want to get working on his right! I do see that bit of freedom in his play. It's like he's playing on the street - a smashing player."
Meanwhile, Forrester insists the title is up for grabs this season and makes no bones about it.
After early back-to-back defeats to Sligo Rovers and Bohemians, the Saints have rallied and sit two points off leaders Derry City in third.
The season is still in its infancy, but Forrester sees no point in limiting the scale of the club’s ambition after winning the FAI Cup last season.
"In previous years, you might have been nine points behind at this stage and thinking to yourself it's going to be a hard gap to close already,” he said.
"We’re there at the moment and I think it will be close.
“Especially when you consider that Shamrock Rovers have lost two games already - something that was inconceivable in the last two seasons.
"You play it down because you don't want people getting too far ahead of themselves but, for us, I think we can go all the way.
“Especially with the team we have this year; the staff, everyone pushing in the right direction at the club.
"It's about getting consistency and a few wins under our belts and you never know. It's open for everybody to go and win it."
