Jacob Murphy feels a "2.0" version of himself was created when he came back from his loan spells away from Newcastle.
The 30-year-old joined his boyhood club back in 2017, but struggled to make his mark early and spent time on loan with West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday before returning to the Magpies, where he has now played 250 times.
It was during that second loan spell away that sparked his career back into life and he has since become a key figure in helping Newcastle secure silverware and play Champions League football.
"West Brom, no [I didn't envisage coming back to the club at this level]. But Sheffield Wednesday? Yes, I could try to see resurgence," said Murphy.
"Everyone has different paths, this is my path. That loan at Sheffield Wednesday is where it started to click. I came back and that was where Murphy 2.0 was formed.
"I had a good couple of seasons under Steve Bruce, the gaffer [Eddie Howe] came in, and the rest is history as they say."
During his nine years on Tyneside, Murphy has seen the club go from battling relegation to competing in the Champions League, with the opportunity to reach the last-16 for the first time if they come through unscathed from their play-off second leg with Qarabag on Tuesday.
Asked if he could have expected this back in his early Newcastle career, he responded: "Bluntly, no.
"Everyone knew it was all about survival back then. It was like that for a few years. But things change, goals change, everyone's belief changes.
"Where we are today, where getting in the last-16 is what everyone thinks is believable, it is what everyone wanted and where we want to be."