'I didn't want to leave, I waited'
Jon Flanagan's recent resurgence into the Liverpool first team has been all the sweeter for the man in question given that the defender had previously pondered whether his chance had passed by.
The hard-working Scouser made an instant impression with an unexpected but stellar debut against Manchester City under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish in April 2011.
Flanagan remained in contention for minutes throughout the Scot's second tenure as manager, but was restricted to just two appearances during Brendan Rodgers' maiden campaign at the helm.
Injuries among the boss' defensive options this season, however, have afforded the 20-year-old another opportunity to prove his credentials - something he has done consistently in the past two months.
It's a dream scenario the local lad never relinquished, despite the series of setbacks he was required to overcome to experience feelings such as a man-of-the-match Merseyside derby performance and scoring at White Hart Lane.
"At one stage I thought my future might not be at Liverpool," the Reds' No.38 has reflected.
"With all the players that were in front of me I thought that I was never going to get a chance.
"That's hard for me to admit because I'm a Liverpool fan and I'm desperate to be a Liverpool player but I also had to be realistic and at that time that was the way I saw it.
"It was tough. I'd had a couple of injuries and I was working hard but an opportunity wasn't really opening up for me.
"I had a couple of chances to go out on loan but I didn't think they were right for me and my development so I just stuck at it and waited for my chance."