While his old Southampton pal was winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, he was in a League One dogfight with
Cheltenham Town. At that point, Will Ferry couldn’t help but wonder where his career was going.

So there was a sliding doors moment. After being relegated with the Robins to League Two, they offered him a deal to stay. The alternative was a dive into the unknown. Reject it, pray for another club to take a chance on him – and somehow try to fight his way back to the top.

And at least give himself the opportunity of emulating old Saints team-mate Nathan Tella, who by then was ripping it up in Germany. Ferry gambled on his future. And as much as he has achieved nothing yet with Dundee United, it looks like his decision has paid off. The left wing-back has been a revelation at Tannadice since joining Jim Goodwin’s side in the summer.

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Not only has he taken his game on to the next level, he’s now being touted for a potential Republic of Ireland call-up. And as he reflects on how his and Tella’s paths threatened to go in very different directions, he says moving to Scotland was key.

Ahead of Monday night’s Dundee derby in the Scottish Cup at Dens Park, Ferry said: “Yeah, it felt like a pivotal moment for me. I was confident that I would find a club and I’ve got no regrets.

“It feels like it has been a step up and I’ve stepped up my own game. I look back and realise how happier I am now.

“Cheltenham are a good club but it’s not a football town – it’s more about rugby and the horse racing. We were a small club in a big pond and you didn’t feel respected.

“Now I’m at a big club who are involved in big games. When I first went to Southampton as a kid, my biggest fear was being stuck in Under-21’s limbo.

“I was in and around the first-team but never considered a first-team player at Saints. I’d see other boys get chances and I didn’t. But I didn’t deserve it.

“It was hard. Since then it has been a slow rise for me but hopefully I’m now on an upward trajectory. Back then was difficult but I think I’m on my way back up. The best example of a player I was with at Southampton is Tella.

“He’s in the Bundesliga now and won the title last season with Leverkusen. We were injured at the same time but after one session when he came back the gaffer at Southampton said: ‘I’m having you.’

“He broke in, went on loan to Burnley, scored something like 25 goals then got a move to Germany. And Bayer Leverkusen obviously won the league.

“While Nathan was there I was at Cheltenham and in the middle of a relegation scrap! As frustrating as that was I knew he deserved it.

“You look at boys like that and wish it was you but you’re not bitter. You have to earn it and unfortunately I didn’t.”

At Cheltenham the biggest derby Ferry sampled was against local rivals Forest Green Rovers. He knows it’s a different ball game on Tayside now but he’s loving it and wouldn’t want it any other way.

The 24-year-old said: “I lost my love for the game a bit at Cheltenham. We were losing every week.

“At United we’re getting good results and everything is going well. I feel I’ve got that hunger and desire back now.

“At United even getting asked for pictures is weird because I’ve never had that before. You’ll get the odd look in a shop where people do a double-take. It’s nice but I’m not used to that.

“You have to be careful here if you want to go for a drink with your family after a game. It might not have been a good result so fans might be out. So you’ve got to think more about what you do because people will take notice and you’ll be judged.

“That has been a big change for me, how I’m seen. Even if it might be completely innocent, you can’t be naive in that situation.

“In Cheltenham no one knew who you were. It’s enjoyable here because you feel important and liked. You feel like you matter to the fans.

“At Cheltenham we had a derby against Forest Green but it was completely different. Everything here feels more heightened in terms of atmosphere and importance.”

Ferry has been an integral part of United’s success so far this season, with the club sitting third in the Premiership after winning promotion. Ireland are watching him and he admits if Goodwin’s side could qualify for Europe, it would cap a remarkable turnaround on a personal level.

He said: “The best way to describe being here is that I feel like a proper footballer now. That’s what everyone dreams of. It’s not about the recognition but the little things that come with playing for a club like this are nice.

“It’s mad to think about what is possible for us, especially the Europe thing. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but I was watching St Mirren playing in Europe and thinking: ‘Jesus, that’s wild.’

“So that’s the biggest thing for me. When I first came here, I thought: ‘That could be good.’”