Kalvin Phillips was named England men's Player of the Year in 2021, but has since seen his career stall at Manchester City.
Championship side Sheffield United signed him on loan on Deadline Day, and he looks set to start this weekend against Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.
In an exclusive interview with Tim Thornton, he reveals his belief that he still has another big chapter in his career to write, his admiration for Chris Wilder and how a promotion push is a realistic target for Sheffield United this season.
"In the first half, my lungs were gone. I was very stiff for the next three days."
Phillips made his first start for Sheffield United in their 1-0 win at Portsmouth last weekend and admitted it was tough.
His only appearance this season for Manchester City came in the final seven minutes of their Carabao Cup win against Huddersfield in September.
But after spending so long on the sidelines, he was happy to be thrown in at the deep end.
"I want to play as many games as possible," he says.
"If I'd gone to a Premier League team, it might have taken longer to get into the team, and they have fewer games.
"I'd rather be put in the deep end than work my way in. Chris (Wilder) has been really good with me, asking how I'm feeling and making sure that if there's anything body-wise or uncomfortable, he's there to ask the questions.
"I've really enjoyed it since I've been here."
Phillips' decision to move to Bramall Lane may have surprised a few people, but for him it made perfect sense, with his former Leeds team-mate Patrick Bamford having a hand in persuading him to sign.
"Funnily enough, it was early December when I was thinking about going out on loan. Pat texted me and said Chris is asking him to message me to see what I thought about coming here to play a few games.
"At first, I wasn't sure, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought why not?
"I spoke to Pat and, to be honest, I barely spoke to Chris. I just made my mind up, spoke to my agent and said I'd rather go to Sheffield United than anywhere else.
"I've always admired the way Chris manages and the stories I've heard about him. It just felt like the perfect fit."
Asked how tough it has been to maintain his focus at Manchester City this season while spending so much time on the sidelines, Phillips said: "When I played at Ipswich last year, I got injured towards the end of the season, which was a killer because I felt like I was getting back into the rhythm.
"Then I had a long injury over the summer and, being back at Manchester City, I knew my minutes would be limited because of the situation at the club.
"I hadn't played much while I'd been there anyway, so I was just working on training well, getting as fit as possible and looking towards January."
Phillips turned 30 in December and has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract at the Etihad Stadium. But he is hungry to get back to his best and achieve more success:
"I'm a person who works hard and never gives up on what I believe I can do," he adds.
"I just need to play football to get back to my former self. Once I get up and firing, I'll feel a lot better and a lot more confident.
"Any player in my situation would say not playing has been the major reason for a dip. So many players have stayed at clubs for so long without playing, and their careers have fizzled out. I didn't want that to happen.
"I still feel like I've got life in me and a lot of football to play. I'm looking forward to the next three or four years."
So could that next chapter be promotion to the Premier League with Sheffield United?
"With the squad we've got, it's 100 per cent achievable," Phillips insists.
"We didn't have the greatest start, but we've had a decent run recently. The win at the weekend was big because we didn't necessarily play our best football, but we dug deep and got three points.
"We've got the Steel City derby this weekend, which will be tough and exciting, then Coventry and QPR. The Championship can go either way.
"If we focus on Sunday's game, which is a massive one for us, and get the preparation right, that can set us up well."
Watch Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday live on Your Site Football from 11.30am on Sunday; kick-off 12pm
