MJ Kamson-Kamara made his European debut for Hearts in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Benfica and is now desperate for more, with Rapid Vienna next up in the Conference League play-off.
The 20-year-old defender, on loan from Lincoln City last season at Glentoran, came on as a second-half substitute as the Jambos exited the Europa League 7-2 on aggregate to the Portuguese giants.
Despite the defeat, the performance against a Benfica side featuring World Cup stars such as Andreas Schjelderup, Dodi Lukebakio, Amar Dedic, Richard Rios and Tomas Araujo has boosted optimism in Wouter Vrancken's squad.
From Irish League to European stage
Kamson-Kamara spent last season in the Irish League with Glentoran, a far cry from facing players he watched at the World Cup.
He said: "That's football. You want to keep on progressing in your career. Of course it's a difference going from Lincoln to playing against people that are worth a lot of money, who have played in the biggest stages of football. But that's what you want as a footballer."
He added: "It's just crazy playing against people that scored in the World Cup. And you see Clement Langlet, Jhon Duran who played in the Premier League. You could name all of them."
Signs of improvement under Vrancken
Hearts have had a tough start under Vrancken, with a 6-0 aggregate Champions League qualifying defeat to Sturm Graz and a heavy away loss to Benfica.
But after a 4-0 win over Dundee United and the improved display against Benfica, there are signs things are clicking.
Kamson-Kamara said: "Yeah, 100 per cent. We want to win every game. We need to get a good result to take to Vienna. We know our qualities. We have to be a bit patient with the results because we've been playing well, but it hasn't been going our way. Now I think it's starting to click."
Praise for Vrancken's methods
Kamson-Kamara, identified by Hearts' Jamestown Analytics tool despite only one senior appearance for Lincoln, has had to bide his time for competitive action.
He praised Vrancken: "The manager has been good with us, communicating what he wants from the defenders. He's been great, top level. Very intelligent. He focuses on the little details from the defence, goalkeeper all the way up to the striker."
He added: "He's helped me in many ways, the little technical details. When receiving the ball, the passes I can find, not trying to do too much of the ball as a centre-back. Just keeping it simple and the patterns of play he wants from us."
