Barry Douglas is backing himself to become the latest Dundee United player to make a smooth transition from the lower leagues to the SPL.
The 20-year-old left-back has put pen to paper on a three-year contract, choosing the Scottish Cup holders over English Championship side Watford among others.
Going from playing in division three with Queen’s Park to facing the likes of Rangers and Celtic, not to mention European football, will be tricky.
However, Douglas is keen to follow the route to success taken by Tannadice stars Morgaro Gomis (who joined from Cowdenbeath), Craig Conway (from Ayr United), and Danny Swanson (Berwick Rangers).
“It gives me great hope that United have signed a lot of players from the lower leagues and given them their big break,” he said.
“It is obviously down to the player himself to produce the goods but the club has showed beyond all doubt they are willing to give boys from those leagues a chance.
“You just have to look at what Craig Conway did in the Scottish Cup final and he came from Ayr in the first place.
“First things first, I need to come in and adapt to full-time football.
“It is a challenge I am absolutely relishing and I am sure guys such as Conway, Gomis, Swanson and Paul Dixon, who plays in my position, will help me along the way.
“They will all recognise that I have come from Queen’s Park and that I will be needing a bit of guidance of that there is no doubt.
“But I have confidence in my own ability, so it will be up to me how far I go.”
Douglas will find it hard to get in the side before Dixon but he looks forward to learning from the former Dundee player.
“I know it is not going to be easy with Paul Dixon already the established left-back,” he said.
“He is a great player and I hope to learn a lot from him, but it is a squad game more than ever these days, so when I get my chance I have to try and make the most of it.”
Manager Peter Houston has high hopes for the Glasgow-born full-back but said he is not expecting too much too soon.
“I am very happy to bring another good player here with big potential,” said Houston.
“Considering the other interest shown in him I am delighted he has chosen Dundee United to further his career.
“He is not the finished article but he is good on the ball, has a good free-kick, and was top scorer for Queen’s Park last season with eight goals from left-back.
“I have had long chats with him about what is expected here but I won’t expect too much too soon.
“He will start off well but let’s remember it is his first season in full-time football so there will be a point when he wanes.
“When you look at the likes of Gomis, Conway and Swanson, though, it is proof that guys can go on to big things.”