Baccus declined an offer from AC Siena to play out the rest of the season with their reserves, preferring to line up for Blacktown City Demons in the NSW National Premier Leagues.

After four years abroad the creative midfielder suffered a frustrating return to Australia, failing to get a run under Glory’s then-coach Ian Ferguson.

The 21-year-old was one of several promising young players to exit the West Australian side last season prior to the appointment of Alistair Edwards.

Initially sidelined by a torn hip flexor, he found it impossible to break into the underperforming squad and left before Christmas.

Now winning admirers in the state league with his impressive form, Baccus says he’s moved on from last season’s setback.

“I’m home with my family and starting over again - hopefully I can get back to where I want to be,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I thought if I went home I could sort myself out over here and get back into the A-League somehow.”

The young Aussie spent several years on the books of French club Le Mans after going abroad in 2009 as a talented youth player in the national set up.

He signed a pre-agreement with Siena before joining Perth in September last year on a short term deal and was expected to return to Italy to link up with the Bianconeri.

In an earlier interview, club president Massimo Mezzaroma described the Aussie as a “talented young player” who they had “monitored for some time.”

Siena continued to track the progress of the gifted number 10 but expressed concerns that he wasn’t playing.

Baccus added: “They did want me back for the second half of the season if I was playing and doing well for Perth.

“They asked me why I didn’t play and I told them the young boys didn’t get that much opportunity.

“(Fergie) had his players that he chose week in week out. Even if you did well at training it was kind of hard to get into the squad.

“(Siena) said I could come back over and finish the rest of the season in the reserves but I wanted to stay home and see if I could build something here.”

Demons football director Ken Schembri, who has known Baccus for 10 years, had no hesitation in snapping up the South African-born player when he rang to say he was heading home.

Schembri has high hopes for the squad assembled this year and Baccus is one of the reasons why.

“In my view he’s probably one of the standout players in the premier league this year,” he said.

“He plays a high pressing game and his speed over the first five or 10 metres in shutting the opposition down is unbelievable.”

The move back to Sydney’s western suburbs has reunited the player with some mates from the past including former Newcastle Jets forward Sean Rooney.

And with the Demons currently sitting in fourth and showing every sign of having more in the tank in the race for honours, the midfielder says he’s in a good space right now.

“(Last season) made me realise and open my eyes up that when you get a setback you’ve just got to work harder and hopefully your luck changes,” he said.

“I know I’ve got to work this year and if anything happens it happens – if it doesn’t I’ll keep going.

“I’d like to get back in the A-League, hopefully do well and see what happens from there.”