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Here's some good news about Harlequins prodigy Marcus Smith. If there is such a thing as second-season syndrome, he's come through it. If anyone feared that all the hype would go to his head, it hasn't.

The 20-year-old fly-half has had to contend with a sky-high profile from the start of his senior career. His talent was spotted by Eddie Jones while he was still a schoolboy at Brighton College and he was fast-tracked into England training squads as a callow teenage 'apprentice'.

Such instant recognition could have been a curse, as well as a blessing, but Smith has taken it in his stride and avoided the bright lights of star status. 

Harlequins' Marcus Smith has shown focus to avoid second-season syndrome

THE THRILLER FROM MANILLA'S STATS

This is the emphatic endorsement from his head coach and former England defence guru, Paul Gustard: 'He's humble and he's not desperate for fame. He's not craving to be on a red carpet somewhere. He's desperate to win rugby matches, he's desperate to do well for Quins and he's desperate to be the England fly-half. 

'It's always going to draw attention when an 18-year-old kid is brought into the England squad; like we saw before with Paul Sampson, with Danny Cipriani and with Mathew Tait. They all got a lot of attention early. It's happened to Marcus too, but he is very grounded, with a good family.' 

Two younger brothers, Luc and Thomas, provide a counter-weight to the swirl of acclaim which has greeted his emergence as a play-maker with a remarkable repertoire of attacking gifts.

Smith does not, with hindsight, regret becoming an overnight sensation. He has enjoyed the experience, but understands how his brothers have stopped it having a negative impact. 

'It's a pretty cool experience, to have people recognise you,' he told Sportsmail, in an exclusive interview. 'The main people who have kept me down to earth are my brothers. They are always cheeky with me and they're my biggest critics. Whenever I come off the pitch, I'll check my phone and see a text from my youngest brother saying, "Marcus, that's unacceptable"! 

'Having them there pushing me, telling me what's what and taking the p*** out of me - that keeps me normal. It's about not reading too much into it (hype), focusing on the processes, trying to keep improving and then having the odd kick in the teeth from your brothers I guess!' 

The 20-year-old fly-half has had a sky-high profile from the start of his career

At Harlequins, they have all played a part in guarding against any threat of their wonder-kid developing a run-away ego. As the interview takes place, on a balcony overlooking the training ground in Guildford, he is barracked repeatedly by various team-mates.

He notes how some of his senior colleagues act as 'massive critics', while also encouraging him to run the show - which comes naturally to someone whose own mother said was 'bossy' as a child.

His first senior campaign ended last spring with a deluge of awards. Months earlier, he had been on the shortlist for the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year. He was involved with England and was tipped as a rising candidate for a place in the World Cup squad. He was on a roll - but he was warned to expect harder times and sure enough, they came in the autumn.

Smith has enjoyed his rise to prominence, but is thankful for his brothers

'I was always told that there would be bumps along the way,' said Smith. 'I had an early wake-up call this season. There were a few games early on when I wasn't myself; I wasn't running and that is my point of difference so I want to show that in every single game. Guzzie being harsh on me and telling me what's what has pushed me forward.

'It's been tough this season. Everyone was telling me about second-season syndrome and I tried to ignore that. I feel like I've been moving slowly in the right direction. I've worked on a few things. Defence and game-management have been my two priorities and I'm pretty happy with where I am at the moment.' 

Gustard addressed the challenges ahead for Smith when he took charge at Harlequins. During pre-season, he told him: 'Let's dispel this idea of a second-season syndrome.' 

Yet, that is the way it panned out for a while; a come-down after the highs of the 2017-18 campaign.

Siblings Luc and Thomas have helped Marcus keep his feet on the ground so far

'There have been growing pains this season; it hasn't all been sunshine and smiles,' said Gustard. 'We've had tough conversations when we've needed to.

'Sometimes his defence has been really poor. Sometimes his management hasn't been good enough. Sometimes there have been too many mistakes, but it's all growth for Marcus.' 

Last Saturday, there was proof that he had heeded all the feedback and constructive criticism - making notes in a notebook to keep reminding himself of the key messages. Quins were narrowly beaten in a European Challenge Cup semi-final at Clermont, but in a hostile environment their young fly-half gave a glimpse of his remarkable potential.

Gustard said: 'You are looking around before the game to see which guys are going to front up in an environment like that. Marcus is still a kid but he was revelling in it. He was pumped and excited. He was ready.

'As a young kid, to lead the team from 10, in a place like that, and do some of the things he did on the field - it was as good a performance from a fly-half as I've seen in 12 years as a coach.

'He was controlled. He was measured. He was electric when he needed to be. We saw a load of things that we've seen from some of the best fly-halves who have come through in this country - and beyond. Marcus's performance last Saturday was as good as Owen Farrell or George Ford produced at the same age.' 

Smith realises aspects of his game must improve if he is to reach his full potential

A Test debut may be unlikely this year, but it is surely inevitable in the near future. Smith is destined for the peak of the sport, having taken an unorthodox route; from Manila - capital of the Philippines where he was born - to time spent living in Singapore and then a family move to Brighton.

He retains links in South East Asia and treasures them, as well as the memories of how he learned the game far from these shores - and this climate.

'I love having those connections,' said Smith - whose typically English name belies his exotic heritage. 'I'll never forget playing rugby down there, where it was sunny and I'd play barefoot. It was great fun.'

These days, he has to accept going about his work in all conditions, but he is honest about being a fair-weather golfer; only likely to take to a course when the sun is shining. He previously admitted to a gaming habit, but time spent playing Fortnite has been somewhat curtailed by a business management degree with the Open University.

This afternoon, with one of his former coaches from Singapore in attendance at Sandy Park, Smith will line up against Exeter - hoping to advance Quins' Premiership play-off ambitions and demonstrate that he has been learning on the field as well as off it.

If he can build on his tour de force against Clermont, he really will have dispelled the notion of second-season syndrome and proved once again that he can live with the hype.