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ZANDER Diamond strolls down his street in England and barely gets a glance.

No-one knows who he is – and that’s exactly the way he likes it.

As far as he’s concerned, the little the locals know the better.

They’re blissfully unaware, of course, that he was once hailed as the most promising young defender to come out of Scotland in years.

An Aberdeen regular at just 18. The new Alex McLeish they called him. At that time, Diamond was young and cocky enough to embrace the mantle and the pressure that came with it.

He burst on the scene as a teenager, made himself a rock in the Pittodrie defence and a Scotland Under-21 starlet before he’d time to catch a breath.

Celtic were being touted as potential suitors, such was the impact he made for the Dons early on.

Diamond was revelling in it – the adulation of Aberdeen’s support and the attention he received whenever he stepped out in the city.

But that was over a decade ago. Now? Diamond could scarcely be further from the limelight.

He’s just signed a three-year contract with Northampton Town in English football’s third tier. One of Scotland’s forgotten footballers.

And at 29, he’s a changed character. Mature, content and hassle-free, he’s even in the process of organising his wedding to be held in his hometown of Dumbarton next year.

A philosophical Diamond admits he had too much too soon. He says he has no regrets – but knows he could, and should, have done things differently.

But he’s happy. And he doesn’t miss the hype that engulfed him 10 years ago one little bit.

He told MailSport: “Looking back, I felt I HAD to get out of Scotland when I did. I had spent all my days at

Aberdeen and everyone knew who I was.

“My development as a player stuttered in my last couple of years at Pittodrie. I probably stayed two years too long at the same club.

“I don’t want to have any regrets. But sometimes I do look back and think ‘What if?’

“Listen, I loved my time at Aberdeen. The fans were brilliant with me. But I had to get out when I did, I needed to up sticks and move away. That’s why I signed for Oldham.

“Even though there was huge expectation on my shoulders as a kid, I don’t think I let it affect me.

“I was a confident type of boy so I didn’t let the pressure take over.

“But it’s only when I think about it now, I probably had too much, too soon in my career. I was being tipped as the next big thing, the new McLeish, all that type of stuff.

“As a youngster you want everyone to recognise you and I was the same but as you grow older, you just want to drift away into the background.

“Because Aberdeen was a one-club city, I had no privacy at all.

“That’s something I’ve enjoyed in England. I’ve been able to get on with my life and no-one bothers me.

“That’s a huge change. If I return to my home town of Dumbarton people still know who I am and say hello.

“But I don’t really care if people in Scotland have forgotten about me.

“I’m old enough now, with broader shoulders, to take any negative comments that come my way.

“I’m in a happy place now, enjoying my football and that’s what matters.”

Diamond spent eight years at Aberdeen. He made his debut in 2003 before establishing himself in the side the following season.

There were major highlights, like scoring twice against Celtic at Pittodrie in a famous 4-2 victory.

And he starred in the UEFA Cup group stage in 2007-08 when the Dons faced Bayern Munich, Lokomotiv Moscow and FC Copenhagen.

That’s the kind of stuff he reminisces about now. And despite some of the doubts about what he MIGHT have achieved as a player, he refuses to accept that he’s underachieved.

Diamond said: “Yes, I’d have done things differently if I had my time again. I watch how young players look after themselves now and the game has moved on so much, even in 10 years.

“But I was just a boy when I came through at Aberdeen, I wasn’t mature. I’d definitely have changed a few things but I’m sure a lot of players would say the same, wouldn’t they?

“I’ve grown up in England, I’ve matured as a person and I had to. I do sit back and reflect on things at times but it won’t get me down.

“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved in the game and I’m still a young man.

“I don’t regret not playing at a higher level. For me to go to a bigger club in Scotland, it could only have been Celtic or Rangers.

“Aberdeen have a terrific tradition and reputation and I’m proud of what I did there.

“I did everything I possibly could at Aberdeen to try and be successful. The one regret we would probably all have is not reaching a cup final when Jimmy Calderwood was in charge. I’m sure he’d say the same.

“I saw a few of the current squad at the SPFA awards dinner recently and congratulated the likes of big Jamie Langfield on their League Cup victory. I still look for their results, even now.

“But I tasted the highs of proper European football at Aberdeen.

“I scored against Lokomotiv in the UEFA Cup and played against Bayern in the group stage.

“It was fantastic and I still tell people stories about that period. But it’s in the past now, just memories.”

In 2011, Diamond was supposed to sign for Hearts but, controversially, an ankle injury scuppered the move.

Only now does he believe that it was a blessing in disguise.

And after carving out a career in England at Oldham, Burton Albion and now Northampton, the likeable big centre-back has never been happier.

He said: “When I left Scotland, I almost felt I had to rebuild my career.

“Especially after the Hearts deal fell through. People thought I had already signed for them but I was never a Hearts player. Oldham gave me my move to England, something I wanted and needed at the time.

“If I had signed for Hearts, I’d have had three more years in Scotland. If that deal had materialised, I don’t think I’d have ever moved on.

“So, in a way, the knock back helped me – it got me on the footballer ladder in England.

“I enjoyed my time at Oldham but financial restrictions dictated that I move on. Burton Albion came in for me and that was going into the unknown.

“It’s not a name that rolls off the tongue of Scottish fans. But in the few years I was there, we got to the play-offs twice, reaching Wembley this summer.

“At 29, I should be coming into the peak of my career at Northampton.

“The Cobblers manager Chris Wilder has been first class with me. He has a vision of where he wants the club to be and I’ve bought into that.

“It’s a long-term contract, which is unusual in the current climate. But for me, it’s a bit of security and gives me time to plan my life a bit more.

“I’ll be back in Scotland next summer to get married and hopefully we’ll start a family. I’m looking forward to that.”