The manner of Corrie Ndaba's rise to Republic of Ireland senior status offers great perspective to emerging Irish talent, according to Richie Towell.
Last Thursday, the Lecce left-back came on as a substitute in the friendly win over Qatar to earn his first cap.
The Dubliner came through at Cherry Orchard before leaving for Ipswich in 2019 to start a period in his career where he appeared to be out of sight and out of mind.
Seven loan spells followed for the defender, with no league appearances at his parent club.
Ndaba then moved to Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock two years ago before getting a move to Serie A last summer for an undisclosed fee.
At international level, the 26-year-old was a fringe option in the underage ranks, winning an Ireland under-18 cap ten years ago and receiving a call-up from Stephen Kenny for the '21s in 2019.
And seven years on, senior recognition has belatedly arrived under Heimir Hallgrimsson and speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Boys in Green under-21 international Towell praised Ndaba's perseverance.
"It's seven years since he even played for the '21s, so it's brilliant," he said.
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"It's a great perspective for kids as well. People think you go and play under-17s, under-19s, under-21s and then automatically you go into the first team.
"Sometimes it doesn't work out like that and we see with Corrie he's gone a little bit of a different path and he's still ended up in a place where he wants to be and that's representing Ireland at senior level and it's brilliant.
"I saw some of his interviews after the game and the pride that he had in pulling on the green jersey. It's brilliant for him
"And just from the outside for other people looking at him to say to kids, 'Look, this is how it can go as well. It doesn't have to be a stepping stone from the '21s directly into it'.
"Sometimes you might have to go in a round-about way and come into the first team which is brilliant to see."
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