Demetri Mitchell is determined to make up for lost time after misfortune and bad timing cost the Manchester United academy graduate 18 months of his career and the chance to impress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 23-year-old's long association with the Old Trafford giants came to an end this summer, having progressed through the ranks to make his senior debut on the final day of the 2016/17 league season.
Mitchell impressed up against Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha – and was selected by Jose Mourinho for that summer's pre-season tour to the United States – but it proved his only competitive appearance for United.
The wing-back went onto spend two spells on loan at Hearts, only for a meniscus injury in February 2019 to lie him low for a long period and the coronavirus pandemic to prolong his wait for action.
"I think it was just bad luck, bad timing. Obviously Brandon (Williams) has come in and done great. It's just unlucky me, really."
But while it would be easy to be envious of Williams starting a Europa League semi-final on Sunday, Mitchell's only focus is getting back to competitive football after an 18-month wait.
"Playing in that game against Palace, going on tour and being on loan, I know that my quality is there," the 23-year-old added.
"In terms of confidence, whenever I go into a situation now if I'm not getting in somewhere or I'm not playing my best football, I know that I've got the ability in myself that I'm good enough.
"Those moments have really made me feel like that even if I'm not playing my best football at the time I know that I've got a lot more in the locker, or that I can do things that certain people can't do."
