"Žalgiris" leader Elliot: Lithuania is a great springboard into larger waters. © EuroFootball.com

"In Lithuanian football, 'Žalgiris' is truly a great club. Here we are like Glasgow's 'Celtic' in Scotland," said C. Elliot to the newspaper "The Scottish Sun". "The Scottish Sun" writes that former Edinburgh 'Hearts' striker, Scottish Calum Elliot, who represents VMFD 'Žalgiris' this season in Vilnius, has become a real hero, rediscovering the joy of life. "The footballer had to go through a real hell when injuries shattered all his hopes to continue representing the 'Hearts' club. At one point, it seemed that Calum's career was in serious jeopardy. Now he has found football paradise in the most unexpected place. His stunning performance did not go unnoticed by other neighboring countries' teams. Even Calum Elliot himself was surprised how quickly he was able to adapt to the new environment. For the player released from 'Hearts' in December, this is an incredibly successful return to football," writes "The Scottish Sun" columnist Robert Martin. Calum Elliot told "The Scottish Sun": "When I went to Lithuania, I didn't know what to expect, I didn't understand the language, and I had heard very little about Vilnius itself. However, I did know the sports director of 'Žalgiris,' who had previously worked at the 'Hearts' club. When he offered me to come to Vilnius, I thought: why not? I wanted to forget the tough times in the Edinburgh team and start playing again. I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Vilnius team. "I know that a successful performance in Lithuania can open up broader career paths for me in the future. Of course, everything is not so simple. This is the first time I live outside my native Scotland, but it is getting easier with each passing day. As soon as I arrived here, I was immediately involved in the action. We played many friendly matches, then went to camp in Croatia, and then followed by more friendly games. In such moments, you briefly think about and miss what you left behind in your homeland. However, I truly have nothing to complain about. The club takes great care of me. I try to help them win the championship." The Žalgiris player admitted that Lithuanians show little interest in football. All the attention is focused on the most popular sport – basketball. However, the footballer is happy about that. He can walk the streets of Vilnius peacefully, have lunch, or go shopping. No one recognizes him in this city. "In Lithuanian football, 'Žalgiris' is truly a great club. Here we are like Glasgow's 'Celtic' in Scotland. We aim to become champions, but alongside that, we feel a lot of pressure from the fans. The only difference is that in Vilnius, the fans don't follow you around all day," says the athlete. C. Elliot claims he doesn't feel the language barrier because he can communicate in English. It amuses him that he understands everyone, but not everyone can understand him. The Scot believes it's because of his accent since everyone speaks American English.