Defensive midfielder Joshua Laws - viewed by Australia Under-23s coach Josep Gombau as an uncut gem - was training with Fortuna Düsseldorf's first team 11 months ago, until sidelined by a double arm break.
Not only was he unlucky enough to break his arm once while playing on an icy pitch in January, but he broke it in the same place again just two months later.
The 19-year-old has represented Scotland - the land of his birth - at junior level. He moved to Sydney as a four-year-old before returning to the UK at 12.
But he is now fully committed to the Green and Gold and is on the cusp of a return to action for Fortuna's second team.
With promotion a realistic aspiration for the club sitting top of the 2.Bundesliga eight games into the new season, Laws is eyeing off the chance to join Mathew Leckie in Germany's top flight.
But he knows there is a mountain to scale for both himself and the club if he's to realise those heady ambitions.
"That's the aim, as is also to play for the Socceroos, but for now after breaking my arm twice in the same spot this year I am just delighted to be fully fit again," Laws said.
"It was just sheer bad luck, even the doctor's said they'd never seen a player suffer a break in the same place like that before.
"I missed most of pre-season but I'm now hoping to get into a league game really soon now."
Gombau, who doesn't dish out personal accolades lightly, sees Laws as a player with boundless potential.
"He's a very good player ... he has a good left foot also and can play left-back, left central defender or as a number six or number eight," he said.
Laws has been deployed at the back for the Olyroos, having been initially unearthed by Joeys coach Tony Vidmar, but is a number six for Fortuna.
"Tactically, he's also smart and is an all-round intelligent player. I like him a lot," added Gombau.
For Laws, it's about making up for lost time.
"The hard work starts now," he added. "When you go through the youth you keep in the system I guess.
"But when you get into men's football that's where it really starts.
"The coach is really happy with me and I should be back in the squad soon.
"When go out for quite a while it makes you realise how much you love the sport."
He sees himself as a number six as his career unfolds and is hoping to leave a legacy at Fortuna as he follows in the footsteps of Socceroos attacker Robbie Kruse.
"They like their Aussies ... and Robbie has a very good name at the club, they remember him very fondly," added Laws who is contracted at the club for another 18 months.
"I have a lot to build on here and hopefully they move me up to the first team as soon as possible when I'm back playing and showing what I can do again.
"Europe is is one of the best places to develop yourself, especially in Germany."
But his ultimate ambition is to play in the Premier League at some point.
"That's a big dream for me also," he added. "It's just the dynamic of the competition that makes it so so attractive.
"Growing up a bit in England, it gave me a strong attachment to the Premier League," added Laws who has been in Germany since the age of 14.
"Right now my aim is just to do well for my club, the Olyroos and see where it can lead me."
