The highly-rated 21-year-old might not be the greatest, but he’s eager to point out that lots of the best players in the world are small in stature.

Sarpreet Singh is seeking to follow the Lionel Messi version in regards to achieving superstar status, with size no problem for the highly-rated Bayern Munich midfielder.

The New Zealand international, who is of Indian heritage, is planning to follow in the footsteps of a long line of diminutive playmakers.

For him, the technical ability wins out over physicality, to his creative instincts allow him to flourish alongside team-mates and opponents who might be more powerful in stature.

There are loads of world-class actors to have slipped into that class downtime, such as Argentine icons Messi and Diego Maradona.

Singh hopes to tread a similar path to the top, telling BBC Sport:”There are several examples of players that are small but they’re still the best players on the pitch.

“For me it is about being smarter and getting around that. I believe physical, it’s simple to fix. The technique is somewhat more difficult to fix.”

The promising 21-year-old has lots of talented actors around him Bayern to learn from in the current.

Prolific Polish striker Robert Lewandowski forms a part of the pool, together with Brazil global Philippe Coutinho — another player of Singh’s ilk.

“Learning off the likes of Lewandowski, Thiago and Coutinho and these men, there is no-one better on earth to learn off,” he added.

“I am extremely grateful for this and each day I try to be like them.”

Singh has taken in only one competitive appearance for Bayern so much, with a memorable first-team bow made off the seat in a 6-1 demolition of Werder Bremen on December 14.

“That introduction, 80,000 packed out in the Allianz Arena, it is really a unique feeling and everything I’ve worked hard for the kind of paid off,” he said.

“But at the same time, it is only a start.”

Singh’s efforts for Bayern’s reserve side have helped to push him into contention for senior minutes.

He’s recorded six goals for their second series this year, with the Bundesliga giants continuing to unlock potential which was snapped up from Wellington Phoenix and handed a three-year contract in the summer transfer window of 2019.