Mixu Paatelainen nonetheless remembers his first impression of Glen Kamara - a gifted Gunner who was reluctant to drag the set off.
Now seven years on, the previous Finland boss is delighted to see the Rangers midfielder lastly raiding enemy territory seeking to scope out alternatives to harm rivals.
It was again in 2015 that Paatelainen handed the then Arsenal academy child his first name as much as the Finns’ nationwide crew.
His skill on the ball and eye for a cross was as apparent then as they're at the moment.
The place Paatelainen did have considerations although, was whether or not Kamara had the murderer’s chilly coronary heart and deep want to actually take goal when he had opponents at his mercy.
That’s modified this season together with his emergence as a brand new choice within the No.10 function for membership and nation.
And it’s a swap Paatelainen believes will solely underline his standing as a high-calibre operator.
The previous Hibs, Kilmarnock and Dundee United gaffer informed Report Sport : “Glen was all the time a child I had my eye on after I was the nationwide crew boss.
“I really invited him to a coaching camp one summer season for a few of our gamers who performed overseas as a result of I needed to have a better have a look at him.
“Even then he was any person I assumed may need a great likelihood of breaking into the complete nationwide crew.
“What was seen immediately was his technical skill and his eye for a cross.
“Clearly, with him being an Arsenal youth product that was no shock as a result of these guys at that membership are all the time technically good.
“However in these early days when he moved to Dundee, I assumed he was a bit tame in his passing.
“Now although, he’s bought that little bit of spite in his ahead passing and he’s now a way more harmful prospect and somebody who is actually able to profitable video games for Rangers and Finland.”
Kamara must wait one other two years earlier than profitable his first cap in a conflict with Estonia beneath Paatelainen’s successor Markku Kanerva.
Since then he’s emerged as a key determine for the Nordic nation, together with his calm and composed shows within the coronary heart of battle inspiring them to their first ever main finals finally 12 months’s Euros.
Sadly, Qatar proved out of attain as they have been overwhelmed to a World Cup play-off spot by Scotland’s conquerors Ukraine.
And there was additional disappointment as Rangers romped their strategy to Seville solely to undergo a spot-kick sickener in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt.
But it was Gers’ Europa League run that noticed Kamara reclaim his place of affect in Gio van Bronckhorst’s line-up.
As soon as a assured starter beneath Steven Gerrard, the £50,000 signing from Dundee discovered himself more and more edged out by one other cut price purchase, because the Mild Blues’ Dutch boss more and more opted to pair Ryan Jack with John Lundstram on the coronary heart of his midfield
Nonetheless, the gruelling exertions of their Euro exploits and a mounting checklist of accidents opened the chance for Kamara to impress in his new superior function.
And it was the 26-year-old’s easy end in opposition to semi-final opponents RB Leipzig which helped steer Rangers to their first UEFA showpiece in 14 years.
“I feel Glen’s carried out rather well, particularly afterward within the European matches,” Paatelainen added.
“However he’s additionally been a sub quite a bit this season in comparison with final season.
“Clearly Gio has needed to try different gamers in his place like Lundstram and Ryan Jack.
“However from what I’ve seen these days in his appearances for Finland this month, Glen has been instrumental for the nationwide crew.
“I watched the Nations League recreation in opposition to Montenegro final week and he performed effectively in a extra attacking function.
“He was working greater up the pitch, giving passes to the strikers and slotting them in behind the strains.
“He’s definitely matured over the season and he’s passing ahead extra usually.
“That’s one thing I’ve all the time needed to see from him.
“Beforehand, Glen has all the time been a midfielder whose major focus appears to have about protecting possession, going sideways of backwards together with his passing.
“However now for Finland and in a number of the huge European video games for Rangers, the place he performed in a No.10 function, he did significantly better in passing ahead and creating probabilities.
“Getting that aim in opposition to Leipzig within the semi-final at Ibrox was nice to see too as a result of that’s what he's able to.
“He’s undoubtedly developed in that respect.
“I’m certain Gio has spoken to him and have that extra attacking bow in his armoury.
“The identical applies with the Finland crew. He’s bought a licence to go greater now and use his approach within the areas the place it may possibly harm opponents.
“It’s nothing irregular that a participant can have a little bit dip or finds himself not that includes within the beginning line-up so usually.
“That’s the best way it goes typically.
“Gio determined to go along with another gamers and it definitely labored for Rangers early on in Europe.
“However he’s come again in and confirmed how vital he might be.”