AT 21, having been named as the A-League’s inaugural Young Player of the Year and signed by Queens Park Rangers straight after, Nick Ward loomed as one of Australian football’s brightest young talents.

But after many a season whereby that potential remained just that, he had a fair idea that a tear suffered to his ACL in his debut for the Western Sydney Wanderers in March 2015 had affected the path his career was meant to go down, enormously.

He had no idea, however, just how badly it would affect his life.

After undergoing two months of rehabilitation at the club post-operation he was let go at season’s end and was effectively out on his own and out in the cold.

Left without a club base he decided to purchase a café in Melbourne to keep him busy while undergoing rehab but that commitment only made it harder for him to rebuild his football career and damaged his mental health.

Now 32 and with a fresh perspective on life and football he has gone back to basics – to the VPL’s Bentleigh Greens to be exact - to have one more crack at the big time.

Nick Ward with the A-League trophy Melbourne Victory won in 2009. Source: News Limited

But not before recounting the tough times that have lead him there.

“You quickly come to the realisation when you’re not in a professional setup just how lucky you are and how easy you’ve got it,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“People waiting on you at all times when you’re injured as opposed to seeing someone privately where they do care but really it’s a lot about swiping your card.

“I was getting frustrated and to be honest a bit depressed about it all.

“There’s been some dark moments stepping out of a structured environment. I missed that even though I had the café but that became a burden on my football and that’s why I’ve taken so long to get back into it.”

Belatedly it may be, but getting back into it, he is.

Melbourne Victory’s Carlos Hernandez and Ward in action for Wellington Phoenix. Source: News Limited

With the desire for one final chance as a professional, Ward has gone back to Bentleigh, starting off in the reserves, in the hope of one more chance in the A-League.

“I don’t feel like I ever retired in my head,” he said.

“I always had a goal to get back I just got side-tracked and took on too much with the café. I was trying to train like I was with a pro team and it just wasn’t working.

“Whether it’ll get me back into a pro team remains to be seen. I feel I can do it, my body feels right and it’s just about getting that opportunity.

“I don’t expect anything based on what I could do in the past but if it’s just a two week trial it’s no risk for a club.”

And if he does get that chance, Ward will attack it with a completely new perspective.

After being signed by QPR, following his brilliant debut season with Perth Glory, he went straight into the Londoners first team and scored in his opening month at the club.

Steve Corica (L) and Nick Ward in 2005. Source: News Corp Australia

The departure of Ian Holloway as manager, however, cost him his place.

A year later he was back in Australia at the first of five A-League clubs along with a short stint in Greece at Iraklis.

How he longs for that initial chance again.

“You don’t like to have regrets and it’s not good to dwell on the past but I definitely feel like in the early days in the A-League there was more of a drinking culture, whereas now it’s a lot more professional,” he said.

Ward in action for Perth in 2005. Source: News Corp Australia

“I would have changed the way I managed things if I had my time again.

“I had some really good opportunities overseas. When I was out on loan (at Brighton from QPR) or in the reserves I could have worked harder and battled through it rather than getting upset about it.

“I’ve got perspective now on all of that which I would never really have had if not for this tough period.

“I’ll approach it very differently with one more chance.”