Jamie Fielding says he has found his eyes well and truly opened after his initial months at Stevenage.
The 20-year-old defender joined Boro in May from Hastings United and has spent the last two months with National League South St Albans City in order to get some much-needed game time.
But moving from part-time football to the professional ranks was not what he expected.
"It's been tough, just adapting to professional football from playing part-time," he said. "It does take time to adapt and I've realised that.
"In my head I was going to come in and smash it and it hasn't worked out that way.
"But it's a test for me and I am more than happy to keep playing and keep working at it so I can get there one day."
And he also believes Graham Westley can lead the Lamex-based side to safety.
Fielding said: "He's come in and been really positive around the players and he can definitely be the one to getting us going forward with all of his experience."
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