NOW is the time for Karleigh Osborne to stop being seen as a promising youngster and nail down a regular first-team place - according to the player himself.
The 22-year-old defender will take a trip down memory lane tonight when Brentford host Hull City in the League Cup second round.
The last time the two teams met was on the last day of the 2004-05 season, when Osborne made his debut in a 2-1 win for the Bees .
Since then he has spent five years as a fringe player - but is now aiming to this season become a permanent fixture in Andy Scott ’s side after starring in Saturday's draw at Swindon..
He said: "It’s been frustrating being in and out of the side, but I know it’s much to do with my own consistency.
“Now is the time for me to step up. I’ve played more than 100 games for the club and can’t be seen as a young player for the future any more.
“I feel more at home at centre-back than right-back, but I love Brentford and just want to wear the shirt, wherever I am required."
Osborne remembers little of that game against Hull, in which Martin Allen, with his side already sure of a play-off spot, also handed first-team debuts to fellow youngsters Darius Charles , Charlie Ide , Ryan Watts and George Moleski.
Many of the others have now drifted into the non-league game, or out of football altogether, with Osborne the only one to still be involved at Brentford.
And although that fact makes him proud, with the club setting up their first ever academy, he looks forward to the day when more Brentford youngsters are joining him in the first team.
Osborne said: "I do take some pride as I have worked extremely hard to keep myself in the first team squad, it’s not easy, but I’d love to see more young players make it here.
“I still keep in touch with a lot of the old lot - Ryan Peters is godfather to my son, and I was speaking to Darius Charles the other day about playing against him in the Stevenage game. I feel like I’m doing it for them as well."
Although his debut passed by in a blur, Osborne clearly remembers the difficulty of marking a former England international.
He added: "I started at right-back, then was moved into midfield where I had to man-mark Nicky Barmby, which was tough. We all found out a few days before that we’d be playing, and there was a real buzz amongst me and the younger lads.
“I had been on the bench before, but this was something else. We were all nervous as it was in front of a big crowd, and I remember the roar after the second goal and at full-time.
“It was such a typical Martin Allen thing to do, pitching us in at the deep end, but he had faith in us all."
For the latest Brentford team news, click here .
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Brentford news.
