Nathan Collins feels his transition to senior international football has proved "seamless" and credited Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny for giving him the freedom to play the way that suits him.
The Burnley defender has won four caps for the Boys in Green, with the 1-0 loss to Ukraine on Wednesday - in which he was one of the few bright spots - marking a second competitive start.
The 21-year-old is once again in line to feature against Scotland on Saturday with the Irish side under pressure to turn their UEFA Nations League fortunes around. And he's already feeling comfortable at this level.
"It's easy to come into this group. It's a good group of lads. They give me confidence and after a tough end to the season, to come in here they've helped me out a lot," he told RTÉ Soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue.
"So it's made it seamless for me. I just enjoy playing football. I really enjoy playing the style of football for Ireland... Stephen Kenny gives me freedom to play my kind of football."
With a third fixture in quick succession on the horizon, he added: "I've grown up watching these games against Scotland. Big players play in these games and it's a big atmosphere. I can't wait. Hopefully I'm involved."
The defender feels Ireland were unlucky against both Armenia and Ukraine in the back-to-back 1-0 defeats.
"Armenia, we started off a bit slow, grew into it and thought we were in great control and if we got a goal it would have been a completely different game," he said.
"I think we would have gone on to win it by a few more. But obviously they're at home, tough weather conditions and they had a lot to fight for and they scored a screamer.
"Sometimes you have to hold your hand up after that goal and say, 'fair play'. But it was a real frustrating one.
"Ukraine, we started off really well. We were like a house on fire I thought but we knew they were a good team.
"They've good quality and they grew into the game a lot. It was a fair game, an even game, but I don't think we deserved to lose.
"We were unlucky again. We just missed that goal. If we got that goal, I think we would have won it by a few as well."
Collins' start in Armenia last Saturday was a first Ireland competitive appearance for a player coming from a family steeped in soccer, with his father, uncle Eamonn, brother and cousins all having played at various levels.
"It's hard to say a family member who hasn't played football. If you don't play football, it's a bit weird in my family," he quipped.
"My whole life I've just been taught football and that's how I've learned about life - it's all been about football.
"I think it's made me a better person and a better man. The more I grow up, the more mature I become and I think football helps with that as well."
Given how he performed for Burnley in their ultimately failed attempt to stay in the Premier League, as well as how he has taken to life with Ireland, the Kildare native has been the subject of speculation about a move to a top flight club.
However the ex-Stoke player has put all club matters to one side during the busy international schedule.
"I want to get the club where it belongs. It should and needs to be in the Premier League," he said.
"But I've taken a break away. I had a few days off after relegation. I was thinking about life and relegation a lot. It played a big part in my head.
"I've given everything else a break and I've concentrated on (Ireland) as much as I can.
"We've had two games and we've another two to go so that's all that's on my mind."
Follow Republic of Ireland v Scotland (Saturday, 5pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 4.15pm, with live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
Follow Italy U21s v Republic of Ireland U21s (Tuesday, 5pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 4.30pm
Follow Ukraine v Republic of Ireland (Tuesday, 7.45pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 7pm
