Sam Morsy admits that he found his first couple of months at Ipswich Town tough - and he never expected that journey to take him to the Premier League.
Town's super skipper arrived at Portman Road late in the 2021 summer window as part of Paul Cook's Demolition Man squad overhaul.
Having twice captained successful Cook sides at Chesterfield and Wigan, Morsy took a step down from Middlesbrough in the Championship to move to a new home in Suffolk.
Standing on the pitch after leading Town to a second straight promotion, he admitted he never dreamed the move would see him in the Premier League less than three years later.
“No, not at all," he told EADT/Star chief football writer Stuart Watson. "The first couple of months was tough - tough personally to get my head around it and it didn’t go well.
“If you’d have told me two and a half years later you’ll be in the Premier League, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“Fair play to the lads – and I’ve got to say as well, the manager has transformed the culture, transformed everything.
“I’m sure he’s going to get it, but he deserves a lot of credit. Without him, we wouldn’t have done this today.”
If McKenna is the brain behind the Blues, then Morsy - who follows Matt Holland 24 years on as the skipper to lead the Blues into the promised land - is the beating heart of this remarkable Town team.
It's a side which has achieved the unthinkable, beating newly-relegated parachute-payment-packing Leeds United and Southampton to automatic promotion.
Morsy said: “It’s an incredible moment. It’s not easy at all, we’ve competed with some fantastic teams all season – Leicester, Leeds, Southampton – great teams with great managers and experienced, top players.
“To come out second in that bunch and to get promoted is a phenomenal achievement and it makes it even more sweet, the fact those teams below us have been so good and pushed us all season.
“You look at Leeds – normally 90 points would do it, but not this season. We managed to get 96, which is a really good points tally and we did it.”
Of the 2-0 win over Huddersfield which sealed the deal, he added: "We knew a point would do it, but we wanted to approach the game and try to get a win.
“It was about staying calm - we knew the adrenaline was going to be there - but we stuck to the plan and won 2-0, should have been more.
“We conceded very little too, so it’s a good day.”
Morsy's competitive fire, thoughtful interviews and inspirational leadership has already made him a firm favourite with fans.
And he admitted, with joyous supporters flooding the pitch to thank their heroes after full-time on Saturday, that gives him and his team-mates an extra boost.
"Yeah, it’s amazing," he said of the support.
"The fans have took to me so well and it gives you an extra boost, it’s incredible and I’m so happy that the fans get to see their clubs in the Premier League again.”
Those fans will get to see Morsy captain Town in the Premier League next season, while the Egyptian international will also get to realise his dream of playing at the highest level.
Having turned out for Port Vale, Chesterfield, Wigan, Barnsley and Boro, the 32-year-old will square off against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in just a few short months.
Asked how it felt to finally be a Premier League player, Morsy replied: “I’ve definitely taken the long route.
"But you have to keep working, keep giving it a go and you never know where football will take you and fortunately enough, alhamdulillah with Allah, I’ve managed to reach the Premier League at 32.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here