Ferns' form in Malaysia saw him catch the eye of Indonesian clubs but he earned a move last year to Sukhothai FC in Thailand. He is currently in pre-season ahead of his second season at the Thung Thalay Stadium.

Ferns says he has been incredibly impressed by the standard of the Thai league in this growing powerhouse of football in Asia.

"Technically these players are amazing, very very good," he said. "Great passers, great skills. I'm really impressed.

"Matt Smith [former A-League championship winner with Roar] has done really well here and I reckon in five years time, this league and this nation will be absolutely flying.”

Ferns would not look out of place in the A-League and with expansion on the agenda could potentially find himself back in Australia where it all began as opportunities open up.

However, Ferns has his eye on bigger leagues in Asia with Japan his ultimate goal.

“I really want to play in Japan," he said. "There is a partnership with south-east Asia which says that my passport, which is Malaysian, means I don’t count as a foreigner in Japan.

"It will help me if I go there one day; my dream is to play in the J-League 1. I would also love to play for the Malaysian national team. That is my goal as well."

Having played in Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand, the powerfully built defender has racked up an enormous amount of experience for a 25-year-old.

He added: “You have to graft, you have to graft so hard to make it in this game and take your chance when it comes.

“There's a lot of luck there's a lot of timing but you grow as a person along the journey with what you go through.

“All I want to do is make Scott [Ollerenshaw] proud. He has been behind me all the way and I really appreciate his help and of course the Crown Prince of Johor during my time in Malaysia.

“You’ve got to put in the graft and ride the highs and lows."