8 hours ago
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Ronan Kpakio is enjoying such a breakthrough season that the teenage Cardiff City right-back has surprised even himself with how rapidly his star is rising.
This time last year, the 18-year-old had made only two senior appearances for his club.
Now, he is a first-team regular, scoring and creating goals, and a Wales international with two caps to his name.
"It's really exciting. I'm quite young so this is new to me," says Kpakio. "Being able to play loads of games week in, week out is all I can ask for because I just want to get better.
"And then to add the international part as well, that's big for me and I think that's only going to help me. I'm just grateful to be in a position to be able to be here and do this."
If Kpakio has been taken aback by his own ascent, it has come as no surprise to Wales head coach Craig Bellamy, who described the defender's potential as "ridiculously high" when he first called him up to the senior squad in May.
Bellamy revealed that he had tried to sign Kpakio for Burnley when he was working as an assistant coach to Vincent Kompany, so impressed was he by this "very athletic, very intelligent" full-back.
"When he (Bellamy) first called me up, I was surprised and I've had a few camps now," says Kpakio.
"His coaching style is great for me. He's so honest and he just wants the best. That's all I can ask for from a coach."
The same is true of Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy, who took over in the summer to reshape a Bluebirds team reeling from relegation to League One.
The Irishman has instilled an energetic, attacking style of play similar to Bellamy's with Wales, and he has built his side around Cardiff academy products.
That has led to an influx of Cardiff players in recent Wales squads, with the latest featuring four academy graduates, including Kpakio.
"He (Barry-Murphy) is so important. He's really changed how we've all thought," Kpakio adds.
"Our mindset has been formed into something that we really cherish. You see how we play, how we press, for example, it's so high in intensity, and he's a big part of that, along with the other staff.
"I'd say the style of play really suits me as a player, I really like it. I'm more comfortable and confident in what I do."
Kpakio embodies many qualities of the modern full-back: adventurous and creative, equally adept at overlapping and galloping beyond the winger in front or inverting to link play in midfield.
"I'd say I'm very positive with how I play. I overlap, people will have seen how many times we do it, how aggressive I am," he says.
"When you're younger, there's a lot of players you want to look at but, playing as a right-back, I watched players like Reece James, Trent [Alexander-Arnold], [Jeremie] Frimpong, players who have that attacking nature. They're able to show what they can do going forward as well as defending."
In the midst of a busy period for Cardiff and Wales, Kpakio will have plenty of opportunities to show how effectively he can do both.
Given the trajectory of his young career so far, he is only going in one direction.
