Celtic young gun Callum McGregor admitted it was hard to leave the club on loan but feels it has done him the world of good.
The 20-year old midfielder is on a five-month loan with English League One outfit Notts County for who he has scored six goals in 12 appearances in all competitions.
McGregor, who is back in Scotland preparing for Thursday's U21 clash with Slovakia, says he is loving his time at Meadow Lane and believes it is helping him become a much better player and person all round.
"It was a bit of a shock to the system when I moved south. I've been at Celtic since I was 10 years old. It was a massive change but it has paid off so far," he told the Daily Record.
"It was time for a change and for me to grow up. I've had to handle it. I'm living away from my family and friends but I've had to toughen up and deal with it.
"I've got a flat in the city centre. I'm now living on my own and making my own meals. My cooking isn't bad and the flat is tidy enough - my mum is a wee bit shocked by it all.
"League One in England is a lot more competitive, a lot more physical than the youth leagues in Scotland. But if you want to play down there, you have just got to toughen up and handle it.
"In the youth leagues, you are always controlling the game as most teams just come and sit in against us at Celtic. But at Notts County there is a lot more to fight for. It's man's football and points at stake."
