With his career on the up despite the club's recent demotion to Germany's second highest division, FSV Mainz defender Neven Subotić is relishing every moment on the field and thankful to be at an ideal club.

The Bosnia-born American had to settle for only 35 minutes of league playing time last season, but has hopes firmly planted on cementing a place in coach Jürgen Klopp's starting eleven this season, having already started in each of first two competitive matches of the 2007/08 season.

"I started the first Cup game and the first league game, which for me is a great first step to becoming a part of the second Bundesliga run," Subotić described to American Soccer Daily.

"Even though I'm the #3 at this point, I will get enough chances through the months to prove myself - so we will see at the end where I land."

Under Klopp's watchful eye, the stopper hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Mainz success stories, like current Bayer Leverkusen backline marshal Manuel Friedrich.

Over the course of the summer transfer window, and largely spurred on by Bundesliga relegation following last season's 16th place finish, the club has lost some big players, like Friedrich and HSV's Egyptian hot-head striker Mohamed Zidan. With player exits comes open room in the team, uncertainty over places and increased opportunity.