There will be those on the outside looking in, Dire Mebude knows, who will look at his decision to make the switch from Rangers to Manchester City at 16 and surmise – with a hefty dose of hindsight – that it was the wrong move for his career.

After all, in his three years with City, he failed to make a first team appearance, before departing for Belgian side KVV Westerlo last summer. Hardly a black mark against his name, mind you, when you consider the strikers ahead of him in the pecking order at the Etihad.

For his development though, might he have been better placed to stay at Rangers, and perhaps have clocked up far more experience of first team football at an earlier age than he ultimately did by moving south so young?

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Not in Mebude’s book. The Scotland under-21 striker doesn’t regret a thing, and he is certain that the exposure he got to the world-class facilities and coaching under Pep Guardiola at City will only benefit him – and the Scotland national team, with a little luck – in the long run.

When asked if he would still make the move to Manchester if presented with the choice again, Mebude said: “Yeah, definitely.

“I think that has set me up the best for my career.

“It came as quite a shock when I heard they were interested in me. But when I heard that they wanted to sign me, it was like a no-brainer at that point to be honest. I just couldn’t hold my excitement, I just wanted to get there as soon as possible.

“You obviously know it’s going to be tough to eventually make your way to the first team, but for me, it’s the best club in the world.

“It’s not just about the first team, it’s about developing yourself as a player really. They’ve got the best facilities and the best players. It’s good to be a part of when you’re young and trying to develop yourself.

“I was just amazed when I walked in there on my first day. Rangers have a great facility as well, don’t get me wrong, and there are great coaches there too. But Manchester City is one of the best places you can be. I was just happy to get it done really.”

Weren’t there people trying to talk him out of the move though, arguing that he would be better placed as a hot prospect at Ibrox, rather than as one of countless elite youngsters at City?

“I had a few good people in my ear about that actually,” he said. “But at the end of the day it’s my own decision and me and my family came to a decision that it would be the best for me.

“I think what a lot of people miss, because a lot of people say you shouldn’t go down south when you’re young because it’s going to be really difficult, but for a young player it’s just an incredible environment to improve yourself.

“People get a lot of stick for moving away and trying new challenges, but I think it’s really, really good to develop yourself as a person as well and as a player, really stepping outside your comfort zone and doing something different.

“I mean, if it’s a team as big as Man City, there’s no way you can really say no to that. As long as you put your mind to it, you’re always getting better.”

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It isn’t every player who gets the opportunity to work under and learn from a manager like Guardiola either, and Mebude thinks that experience alone made the move worthwhile.

“Working with Pep, it was crazy,” he said. “I was nervous in that first training session with him, very nervous!

“You pick up a lot of details that you won’t see or hear anywhere else. Just the coaching and the way you get brought up there, it’s a different level really. It’s really good.

“It gives you the best insight. It’s really good to see how he works and the severity of how he works. It’s mental to see, but he’s the best coach in the world. It’s obviously going to be intense regardless.”

Mebude does acknowledge though that being in the bubble of the Etihad campus can leave young players a little cossetted, and it was an eye opener when he made the transition to men’s football in Belgium, and then on a loan spell to Bristol City last season. He now feels though he has experienced the best of both worlds.

“At Manchester City, you’re really cared for in the environment and it’s really a safe environment,” he said.

“When I went out to Belgium, you’re just on your own. It’s you against the world really.

“Obviously going from Man City’s facilities to another, it’s not easy as well. The transition of that and being with the best coaches and the best players. It’s really a good challenge to see both sides of the game. You pick up a different mentality and you see things differently.

“I think all the different experiences, going to Bristol, Man City, Belgium, I just think it’s really good to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone as well.

“Everywhere I’ve went so far, it’s not been easy. It’s just about finding a balance really and getting your mind right. It builds yourself up for if it would happen again or another tough situation.

“It’s good to get different experiences as well, good or bad, so you can use them in the future.”

Far from the Scotland team being harmed then in the future by the best talent being picked off increasingly early by the giants of the EPL, Mebude believes it will be enhanced precisely because of it.

“As more Scottish players make the big jump, the talent and abilities only go higher,” he said.

“It’s one of those things where as more people do it, it will become more normalised. Definitely, it will benefit everyone in the long run.

“I have known all these guys in the under-21 squad for years coming through with them, and it’s great to see so many of them make that jump.

“You can see an improvement in them for it, definitely, and that’s only going to benefit Scotland in the long run.”