Adam Taggart did not linger long on a loan deal with Dundee United this time last year but, then again, he had the choice of playing in permanent warm sunshine 9,500 miles away in his home in Western Australia.

In fact 23-year-old striker Taggart - capped by the Socceroos - is happily plying his trade with Perth Glory in his home city 'down under' as part of the flourishing A League.

He returned from injury a month ago to score in four successive games to keep his team on track for a place in the league play-offs. In the three latest matches he has grabbed late winners and equalisers as Glory beat Newcastle Jets 3-2 in a thriller, and, at the weekend, levelled for a 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar.

It was after Glory's top scorer Taggart - 10 goals in 15 games - played for Australia against Holland and Spain in the World Cup in 2014 that he was signed by Fulham, who farmed the youngster out to Dundee United where he played nine games without scoring.

He does look back ruefully on his appearance with The Tangerines in a 5-0 defeat at Celtic Park, and as United's form spiralled downwards he also featured in a 2-1 loss to St Johnstone at namesake Perth.

Perhaps attempting football on frozen or sticky Scottish pitches did not suit the swashbuckling style of the speedy forward who made his mark in his homeland as the Nike A League Golden Boot winner, playing alongside former England internationalist Emile Heskey at Newcastle Jets.

It didn't take much persuading by Perth Glory's English coach Kenny Lowe to entice the forward to fly home to pick up a career which marks him out as one of Australia's bright young hopes along with Celtic's Tom Rogic. Indeed, he has already scored two goals for the national side.

As a regular visitor to Perth where they water the nib Stadium park 10 minutes before the kick-off in 80 and, at times, 90 degree heatwaves I watched recently as Glory's other recognised striker, Irish internationalist Andy Keogh (30 caps) starred in an engaging 2-2 draw with West Sydney Warriors in front of a very vocal crowd of 13,290 fans (compare that to Perth St Johnstone's home attendances of around 2,500).

While sun-tanned cheerleaders wave giant flags as the teams take to the field the noisy supporters belt out the anthem, 'Bound For Glory' - a former Australian no. 1 record by a singer bizarrely called Angry Anderson.

Although Glory are unlikely to win the competitive A League this season they have only lost once at home where they have made nib Stadium a fortress over the past two years. They look certain to feature in the play-offs for honours.

Another star of the team is Aussie internationalist midfielder Josh Risdon who is tipped for a move to Europe.

West Australia sports reporter Stan Lazaridis, who graced the English Premiership with Birmingham City said: "I think he's the best right-back Australia has. It's time for Risdon to move overseas, even if it means leaving Glory now. Glory has known for a long time that Risdon (24) would move on to bigger and better things."

Lazaridis, capped 58 times for the Socceroos, has the ear of manager Lowe with whom he played at Birmingham in the 90s. Remarkably, Lowe was 31 when he turned professional with Barry Fry signing him for Barnet after spotting him as an uncompromising defender with England's Semi-Professional team.

Lowe, who played until he was 39, cut his teeth in management with Non-league clubs Gateshead and Barrow before emigrating to Australia as a coach. He took over Glory in 2014, promptly taking them to the Australian Cup Final where they lost to Adelaide.

Thousands of Scottish fans will know of the Perth club since Lowe followed in the footsteps of former Rangers and Scotland star Ian Ferguson who managed them for three years, also took them to the cup final, losing again to Brisbane Roar, but is now director of coaching at Northern Fury in Queensland.

Incidentally, in Jose Mourinho style, Lowe was banned to the stand for two games recently for upbraiding the officials during half-time of a match but the Englishman is an outspoken character in a colourful league. Motor giants Hyundai are the major sponsors of "the ladder" as it's known over there where the teams travel thousands of miles every week for fixtures.

Sydney FC are out in front. The calibre of the Aussie top dogs (or should that be kangaroos?) is illustrated by the fact they have five home internationalists, free-scoring Brazilian striker Bobo, signed from Besiktas, the quaintly named Joshua Brillante, who was at Fiorentina last year and former Liverpool youth keeper Chris Oldfield. They are managed by Graham Arnold who has been Australia head coach and, previously, assistant to Gus Hiddink.

However, it was Adelaide United who won all of the honours last season with one of their top men being ex-Hearts defender Dylan McGowan.

The A-League of ten includes Wellington Phoenix of New Zealand who are currently bottom of the ladder despite the best efforts of one-time Celtic man Michael McGlinchey who has 38 caps for his country. Mind you, there is no promotion or relegation 'down under.'

Such is the growth of Australian soccer that it is broadcast in 65 countries and has a $160m satellite tv deal with Fox Sport. No doubt, the marquee signings of big names like Del Piero, Dwight Yorke, Robbie Fowler - who shone for Perth Glory - and home-grown stars such as Tim Cahill, still scoring for Melbourne City, and Harry Kewell over recent years has boosted its image.

There is a salary cap set for the ten clubs, allowed to spend $2.6m a season but able to recruit three marquee signings from abroad at a higher rate than the average wage.

Unusually, there are two champions of the league with the outright Premier winners being joined in a Championship play-off finals where the first and second placed teams automatically go into the semi-finals to be joined by the winners of one-off games between the next four highest placed teams - a major incentive for the also rans like Perth Glory. The top two go forward to the equivalent of the Champions League against the other top sides of Asia.

Incidentally, the Aussie Champions Trophy is affectionately known as 'The Toilet Seat', so named because of its shape but, yes, you guessed it, the winners are flushed with success.