Ryan Bertrand is proud to have followed in the footsteps of friend and mentor Ashley Cole by donning England's number three shirt.
It took nearly three years for the 25-year-old to follow up his Three Lions debut with a first start for Roy Hodgson's side.
That moment came in Sunday's tepid 0-0 draw in Ireland - a forgettable match but one which will live long in the memory for Bertrand, especially considering the Aviva Stadium is less than four miles from Crumlin, Dublin where his late grandfather hailed from.
"On a personal note it was good, it was a very proud moment to start," the left-back said.
"It was a proud moment for my family as a whole. For me it is business, though. I am an England player and I was fully focused."
Bertrand's first England start capped an impressive season for the full-back, with the bold move to swap Chelsea for Southampton, initially on loan and then permanently, having impressively paid off.
Europa League football awaits next season after a campaign in which the left-back was voted into the PFA Team of the Year - the fifth successive season an Englishman has filled the role.
That run was started off by former Chelsea team-mate Cole, who Bertrand remains in touch with despite both having left Stamford Bridge for pastures new.
"I learned a lot (from him)," he said of the Roma left-back. "On the pitch and off the pitch, the way he went about his business was fantastic.
"We had a really good relationship on and off the field."
The learning has not ended there, though, as the move to Southampton means Bertrand works under one of the greatest defenders of all time.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman can count Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona amongst his former clubs, with the two-time European Cup winner's experience only beneficial to the likes of the Saints left-back and fellow England international Nathaniel Clyne.
"As footballers, to learn off someone who has achieved so much in the game and has such a calm yet positive persona that Koeman does, it can only improve any player," Bertrand said.
"The tips he gives here and there are invaluable and we are managing to put them into practice.
"We are very resilient defensively first and foremost but we wouldn't be satisfied if we hadn't each put three or four crosses over."
Source: PA
