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Gary McSheffrey travels to Brighton tonight expecting to round off his 20th birthday on the Coventry City bench.
The home-bred striker scored a breathtaking winner at Highfield Road on Saturday after replacing injured midfielder Laurent Delorge against Sheffield United.
But although the injury-plagued Belgian is facing a couple more weeks on the sidelines with a gashed shin, the return of first-team regulars Youssef Safri and David Thompson from suspension means that McSheffrey is likely to resume his substitute role at the Withdean Stadium.
"With two players like that coming back there's a big possibility I won't be starting at Brighton," admitted McSheffrey.
"We all know about Thommo's ability - he's different class - and Safri's composure in midfield. I don't think there's a better ball-winner in the league.
"That makes it tougher for the manager, but with squads these days there's always a lot of rotation and whatever decision he makes will be for the good of the team."
McSheffrey, just 16 when he made his record-breaking first-team debut, is keen on claiming a regular place for the Sky Blues but insists: "Time is on my side.
"I heard on the radio the other week that it's a make or break season for me - I thought that was a bit harsh for somebody who's only just turning 20.
"But I'm making up for lost time. My two hip injuries kept me out for virtually a whole season and that's devastating at such a young age when you want to enjoy your football.
"I've come through it now but I've got some catching up to do. Fortunately time's on my side and hopefully this can be a big season for me."
McSheffrey was surprised to get his first taste of action with the new season barely 15 minutes old.
"Although I had a warm-up before the start of Saturday's game I hadn't even had a run along the line when Laurent was injured," he explained, "so it all happened very quickly.
"I had to tuck in as a left-sided midfielder and I couldn't get forward as much as I wanted to because we were under so much pressure. But obviously when you come into the first team you aren't really fussy where you play."
Like most of the midfielders, McSheffrey was frequently by-passed as the ball sailed from one end of the pitch to the other.
"We know we didn't really play foot-ball," he said, "but sometimes football has to go out of the window. We just had to work hard and grind out the three points, and if needs be we'll do that again at Brighton.
"They will be full of confidence after winning promotion and making such a good start with that 3-1 win at Burnley, so it's not going to be an easy game at all.
"But our defence played very well against Sheffield United - the two centre-halves were fantastic and I'm very pleased for Morten who commanded his box on his first league start.
"Hopefully we can do that again, perhaps improve on the football side, and get another three points. If we could do that it would make it a great start to the season."
McAllister was keeping the lid on tonight's final team selection but he has confirmed that he sees Thompson as a major asset, even though he seems bound for Blackburn Rovers after Graeme Souness reiterated his interest in the livewire Liverpudlian at the weekend.
He could be given a free-ranging role, with Safri adding his combative skills to a central midfield unit that already features the club manager and the team captain.
"As I explained to the five subs on Saturday," said McAllister, "everybody is going to play a part.
"We picked up a bad injury on Saturday so the squad again gets smaller, and all the young guys who sat on the bench are going to get chances.
"Togetherness and spirit is a big thing that managers always talk about but you don't get that in Chinese restaurants on a Thursday afternoon.
"It's about fighting together and getting results out on the football park - and I think the players did that against Sheffield United."
Likely team (4-4-2): Morten Hyldgaard; Richard Shaw, Mo Konjic, Calum Davenport, Dean Gordon; David Thompson, Gary McAllister, John Eustace, Youssef Safri; Jay Bothroyd, Julian Joachim.
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