Monday 4 May 2015 22:58, UK
Ryan Mason admitted he has been taken aback by his rapid rise to stardom with Tottenham this season.
Although most of the headlines at White Hart Lane have been taken by Harry Kane's remarkable goal-scoring record, midfielder Mason has quietly gone about making his mark.
Mason made his Spurs debut as a late substitute in a UEFA Cup tie against NEC Nijmegen in November 2008 yet, remarkably, it took nearly six years - and loan spells at five different clubs - before finally making his first league appearance for them.
Since that surprise start at Arsenal in September, the 23-year-old has become a key figure under Mauricio Pochettino, leading to his England debut in the recent friendly in Italy.
"It's been a breakthrough season," Mason said. "I'm delighted how it's been. The challenge now is to carry on and keep improving for next season.
"It is the first time I am going into a break feeling like a footballer. I have had 34, 35 games and that's the first time that's happened.
"After the next three games I'll look forward to it, but probably within a couple of weeks I will be dying to get back into it and pre-season."
Although Spurs appear to be out of the race for a Champions League place, they still have plenty to play for in their final three games with Europa League qualification still on the cards, and Mason says the squad remains hungry.
"I don't think it's hard at all (to remain motivated)," Mason added. "We are a very young team and we want to be playing games.
"There is no sense of us thinking about our holidays at all.
"You can see with the effort the boys put in (against Manchester City) - we gave absolutely everything and that won't be a problem at all."
