Considering he was playing part-time football with Alloa just two seasons ago and working on a building site, Scott Bain could be forgiven for pinching himself that he is now on the verge of winning a Scotland cap.
However, the Dundee goalie insists that he needs no reminders about just how far he has come and how hard he has had to work to get to this stage in his career.
The 24-year-old was called up last week by national boss Gordon Strachan to the squad that will travel to play the Czech Republic in a friendly on March 24.
It is the second time Bain has received national recognition after being drafted in last summer only to have his dreams dashed when he had to pull out of the squad because of injury.
Now, he is hoping he can do enough in training with Scotland to secure some game time and win his first cap against the Czechs.
Bain, who was unable to prevent Hearts beating Dundee at Dens on Saturday, said: “I am delighted with the call-up.
“After the disappointment of missing the last one, it was really good.
“It is something I am really looking forward to.
“Coming from where I have come from in the last four or five years, it is a good achievement and I am proud of it.
“I will just go there and try to do my best in training.”
When asked if he sometimes has to pinch himself considering how far he has come in a short time, he said: “Not really as I know how hard it was.
“When I was getting up early and grafting on a building site, then going to training at night, it was a slog.
“But I have worked hard and I am just enjoying it.
“I know I need to keep improving every season as people have high expectations of me after last year.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, that’s up to them.
“For myself, I know I need to keep getting better as I am far from the finished article.”
Unfortunately, Bain was unable to celebrate his call-up with a win over Hearts at Dens.
Dundee went behind after just 13 seconds against Rangers last week and they came close to doing the same again on Saturday with Jamie Walker bursting through on goal shortly after kick-off but he pulled his shot wide of the target.
The Jambos built on that start and came close to scoring again in the 14th minute but Bain pulled off a good save from a Juanma header.
Hearts threatened again in the 36th minute but Don Cowie fired over then just before half-time, Arnaud Djoum passed up possibly the best chance of the opening 45 when he shot wide with the goal gaping.
Just seconds after the restart, there was another glorious goal-scoring opportunity and this time it fell to the home side with Nick Ross teeing up fellow midfielder Paul McGowan but his crisp shot was well saved by Neil Alexander.
The keeper’s heart was in his mouth shortly after when he was caught out of his goal with the ball falling again to McGowan but his shot sailed off target.
Dundee tails were up and Cammy Kerr was next to have a chance but he fired over at full stretch.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute when with the Dundee defence all at sea, Djoum played Walker straight through on goal and this time he made no mistake, rounding Bain before calmly striking the ball into the empty net.
The Dark Blues tried manfully to equalise and they had a great chance to do so late on when sub Rory Loy found himself one on one with Alexander but the keeper half blocked his shot and a defender cleared off the line.
Bain insisted that Dundee should have had at least a draw from a match where they created so many opportunities.
He said: “On reflection, I think we deserved at least a point from the game.
“Obviously, they were a lot better than us in the first half.
“We didn’t start the game well again but overall, I think we had enough chances especially before they scored.
“We had three great opportunities and then Rory had a chance that on another day he would probably bury.
“At the goal, I don’t know if I touched him or the ball but I just tried to push him as far away from the goal as possible.
“I was just trying to get the ball but then afterwards I thought if I got sent off I would miss the next game which is of course the derby.
“So obviously I am glad that didn’t happen.”