Brennan Johnson admits he had an opportunity to leave boyhood club Nottingham Forest in January, but says the joy of promotion to the Premier League under Steve Cooper has vindicated his decision to stay at the City Ground.
The 21-year-old played a crucial role in the Reds' promotion to the top flight, netting 16 goals and earning nine assists in 46 Championship appearances, and his sparkling form left him with no shortage of admirers in the previous transfer window.
January saw Brentford come knocking with a bid of more than £15m, while Everton, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were also mooted as possible destinations.
However, while he admits the opportunity to move away might well have been there, Johnson insists he made the right decision to stay in the east Midlands, adding that he always believed in Forest's bid to reach the big time.
"There were a lot of games in January," he said. "I didn't have too much time to think about it [my future]. There was a short period when it did become a thing, what I was going to do. But in my head I always wanted to stay.
"I believed in the team, that we had a real good chance of going up. Even when we weren't too high in the league I knew we had the players to really push on and I'm happy I made that decision.
"This season I knew I probably had the capability to play in the Premier League. I always believed in myself and to do it with Forest is just so much better – it is what I wanted.
"To play in the Premier League this season is definitely something I felt like I had to be doing and in terms of my Wales career as well I think it puts me in a really good stead to get into the team and push for a place.
"Going into a Premier League season with a World Cup, it is another real test for me and it is a test that I can’t wait for. I think I can test myself against good players every week in the Premier League."
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Johnson is likely to be given a chance to impress Wales boss Rob Page against the Netherlands on Wednesday night, having produced a bright cameo off the bench in Sunday's World Cup play-off final win against Ukraine after missing the game against Poland.
Having won a place in the top flight and now a potential spot in Qatar, it's safe to say Johnson has had worse weeks.
"It’s going to be hard to top," he added. "It’s been an unbelievable week. It still probably hasn’t sunk in. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“I watched the Poland game from home, still on a high, supporting the lads and I thought they did really well.”
Johnson's progress at Forest has come under the watch of Pontypridd native Cooper, who - after twice falling short in the Championship play-offs with Swansea City - is also now preparing for a first ever Premier League campaign.
"He's Welsh and wants us to do well," Johnson continued. "He's happy with me coming in, I work hard for him and he's a really good manager. Going into this Premier League season having a good relationship with him is something that's going to help."
Another key figure in his development has been a certain Gareth Bale, who has unsurprisingly left his mark on the Forest youngster, who arguably plays a similar role to the 32-year-old.
"I've learned loads [from him], especially in these play-off games. How much [we're] willing to work for each other. In those big moments you need the big players. I learned loads from the bench, when I come in I just need to be ready.
"The more he plays and the more I get to train with him helps me. He's such a good player and I pick up little things training him with him daily from every session. It's unbelievable for the whole football world that he carries on playing. When I'm on the bench I'm watching little things he does in games. The way he gets past people is something I want to do in my game."
Wales continue their UEFA Nations League campaign at home to the Netherlands on Wednesday, June 8. Kick-off at Cardiff City Stadium is at 7.45pm.
