Udebuluzor attributed his improved condition since the January Asian tournament in Qatar, where he was “low on form and confidence”, to regular action since training and playing exclusively with Ingolstadt’s second stringers. His three senior appearances this term amount to six minutes on the field, and he has not featured for Ingolstadt’s first team since December 2.

“The situation is simple: my contract is running out, and I never wanted to extend,” Udebuluzor told the Post from Uzbekistan, where Hong Kong are preparing for the return match on Tuesday.

“It is a toxic relationship between me and the club. I never felt I was at my best in that club, so obviously I want to leave.”

Udebuluzor moved to Germany when he was 14 to board at the country’s DFI Football Academy. He joined third-tier Ingolstadt in 2021.

“A lot of things have changed since I have been there, opinions on how things should run” Udebuluzor said.

“People in charge feel a certain way about you, and I never properly felt part of the [first] team. Feeling that way for a long time starts to get to you.”

Udebuluzor, who has interest from elsewhere in Germany and is on the radar of Portuguese two-times European Champions Porto, is “open to moving anywhere in Europe, because I am adaptable”.

After scoring three goals in his past four starts, Udebuluzor is content to bide his time with Ingolstadt’s reserve side, who play at the fifth level of German football, for the remainder of 2023-24.

“It is very different from the first team,” he said. “For me, it was a lot more toxic there [senior team].

“I felt like nobody had faith in me, not even the coach. The second-team coach likes me, and the players trust me, the faith is really strong. I am happier, and playing with more confidence.”

The introspective Udebuluzor, who turns 20 on April 1, insisted his “best is yet to come” in a Hong Kong jersey. “I will continue to develop, and hope to find my best really soon,” he said.

That mission is underpinned by the pursuit of the consistency that is rarely a bedfellow of young footballers.

“Somebody told me that to achieve consistency on the field, you have be consistent away from football,” Udebuluzor said.

“I have changed some things in my life. I sleep well, I go to bed on time, and wake up and eat breakfast at a certain time. I consistently keep my house clean.

“If I consistently do these positive things, I will naturally be more consistent on the pitch.”

It is a measure of the player’s renewed physical and mental state that Jorn Andersen, the Hong Kong head coach, said Udebuluzor “lost a close race” with Orr to start against Uzbekistan last week. When he came on at 2-0 down, Udebuluzor “felt I brought new energy, and the momentum changed”.

He said: “Uzbekistan have good defenders, but I know how to deal with them, because a lot of defenders in Germany are like this. If I play on Tuesday, I will try my best for the team. Uzbekistan are strong from back to front, but we have analysed their weaknesses and will try to exploit them.”

As the lone Europe-based Hong Kong player, Udebuluzor has undertaken a gruelling travelling schedule in this international window.

“It is not nice – on the way to Uzbekistan I was half-dead, I wanted to jump off the plane,” he laughed. “My body is not adapting so easily, but I am still alive, so it is OK.

“I will be ready to perform on Tuesday.”