Sterling: I worked out what was needed
Video analysis is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern football and has perhaps never had a greater impact than in kick-starting the career of Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling.
Hard to believe though it may be now, given his progress since, 12 months ago the teenage Englishman was not a regular member of Brendan Rodgers' starting Reds XI.
After breaking into the Anfield set-up during the first half of the manager's maiden campaign, Sterling was handed an extended break from the demands of senior football.
He temporarily moved into the club's U21s side and acted as back-up for the first team as Rodgers sought to give the No.31 time and space to re-energise and sharpen his focus.
It was a decision that Sterling not just understood but perceived as an opportunity, analysing how and where he could improve to force a return to the boss' plans.
Casting his mind back a year, the 19-year-old said: "It made me reflect on what I needed to do if I wanted to get to where I wanted to be.
"When I was out of the team, I sat down with my agent and we did some video analysis of the best games I'd played in for the youth teams and at reserve and first-team level.
"It was about seeing what I did then and what I did when I was out of the team.
"When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas in the first team I was trying for the safer option.
"I needed to go back to basics. I needed to get defenders on the back foot again. A better goals-to-game ratio is the aim for me now."
It would be fair to say Sterling's plan worked.
He was a focal figure in Liverpool's battle for the Barclays Premier League title last season and subsequently impressed at the World Cup with England.
Two cool strikes in the opening three fixtures of 2014-15 have continued his rich vein of form too - so, what is the secret?
"I have tried to block everything out," the attacker added. "I am still going to see my friends on days off but I have tried to just live, sleep and eat football as the manager has told me to do.
"Going into training, coming home, going back into training - that's been it for me over the last 12 months. I have had to make sacrifices and that has been a huge step forward."