A constant across the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign so far is the recipient of the player of the match award.
Three games played and Emily Murphy's efforts have been realised.
She's caught the eye alright and the 23-year-old opened the scoring in the win against Poland on Tuesday last.
This afternoon at the Aviva Stadium sees the return game. English-born Murphy will again be looking to influence things as Ireland look for the victory that will at least nail down third spot in their qualifying group.
Growing up in the south of England, it came down to a choice between rugby and football. Murphy's Dublin-born dad, who played rugby himself, felt his daughter was better at the oval-ball game. The choice was eventually made. And so the start of a footballing career was born.
Murphy, speaking to RTÉ Sport's Marie Crowe, outlined her time with the Chelsea academy and her desire from a young age to sample college life in the USA.
"I think I was 11 or 12 when started playing for Chelsea but I always dreamt of going away to the US as I enjoyed school," the Newcastle United player said.
"They weren't many female academies growing up, so to be in such a prestigious one as Chelsea was amazing. My parents driving an hour to get me there, and then waiting two hours whilst I trained. It was a full family commitment.
"I got to play with loads of girls that are now playing professionally, playing for their countries, so clearly a good stepping stone.
"I was called into the Chelsea team early on as a training player. It was amazing.
"The pool of players is a lot bigger now, so academies are harder to get into. I was so grateful for the opportunity to come my way at that time."
Murphy then went out on loan at Birmingham City, where one Carla Ward was coaching.
And then it was the time to make that trip across the Atlantic.
"The US was always going to happen, something that I had grown up wanting to do," she added.
"I'd seen many players go on scholarship, get an education, and I was good at school. Women's football was still at a point when I was growing up that you'd need a plan B, a back-up. Life happens, anything can happen.
"I wanted my degree, to have something to fall back on. Going to the US, playing at a high level, and getting my education paid for seemed like a no-brainer. It was about getting a life experience. Professional football was always going to be there for me."
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A degree in political science and international affairs from the University of North Carolina was in the bag, as well as playing experience with the North Carolina Tar Heels and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Returning home saw Murphy eventually sign for Newcastle United.
Her footballing education, however, was still not complete. Her experience Stateside had served her well but just up to a point, as she explained: "The style of play in the US is massively different; they are more athletic and the style is more transitional.
"I came back fitter, stronger, faster - and that adds to your toolbox to be able to adapt and play a different style of football. But coming back I wasn't at the same technical level of others - in everything else I felt I was.
"I was aware of that gap. It was a real jump and what I thought was benefiting me was not at a level it should have been. Signing with Newcastle allowed that."
Having previously been drafted into an Ireland training squad during Vera Pauw's time in charge, Murphy eventually received her international clearance a week before she made her debut in a friendly international against Wales in February 2024.
A week of great celebration for the extended family, with the new Irish recruit recalling: "I rang my dad and said 'this is going to happen, I can't wait'. Word spread very quickly around the family. I had phone calls from my grandad and my godfather, Baz Ashmawy, whom everybody knows, aunties, uncles, everyone. It was an amazing feeling and I had a very similar feeling after I made my debut."
Early 2005 saw Ward's appointment as Irish coach. Ward's first two games at the helm saw Murphy on the bench, with the new boss subsequently deciding she would not be one of her attacking options for an upcoming camp in Greece.
Ward travelled to Newcastle to break the news.
But there was a change of plan, with the manager revealing: "I went there to tell her I was leaving her out but that day she was absolutely superb. By the end of the game, I thought that I can't leave her out.
"I went there and she changed my mind in 90 minutes (against Sunderland) at St James’s Park.
"I got on a flight back to Dublin, named her in the squad the next morning and left someone else out."
For Murphy, the fear of being dropped was a "reality check for me", adding: "I think that technical gap I was missing was really exposed when I came on camp. I thought I could fly under the radar and that wasn't the case. Mind you I hadn't been back very long so it was always going to be a push."
Ward's influence in the Irish set-up comes in for much praise, with Murphy noting the manager's people skills.
She said: "Anybody that has worked with Carla or under her will know she is a very personable character. That is massive. She mentions a lot about the person before the player and I think in any profession you will get the most success from that.
"It's the how you determine how people work and people tick if you don't know. She's a done a very good job at that.
"There is a family and a togetherness within the squad and she enhances the personal connection between player and manager and player and staff.
"She has seen me as a young pup trying to learn professional football. Now she's taking me on board in that continued journey."
Watch Republic Ireland v Poland in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
