Grant was in dreamland after his goal in the 2017 A-League Grand Final against Melbourne Victory helped secure the Sky Blues an historic Premiership and Championship double.

The defender’s form had him in the mix for the Socceroos but after rupturing his ACL in July 2017 his dreams were shattered after spending more than a year on the sidelines.

After playing for the Sky Blues in the FFA Cup – debuting an eye-catching retro mullet –and the opening round of the A-League, the Sydney FC fan favourite was hoping to recapture the form that had him in national team contention.

“It’s good to be back playing again,” Grant told FTBL. “I missed being out there and being competitive. When you are used to doing something every day and it’s taken away from you, you miss it.

“It takes a while to find your feet, especially if you have been out of the game for a while - it’s been over a year.

“I don’t feel Iike I am back to my best by all means but I’m just happy to be out on the pitch and having a laugh.”

While many fans and pundits had Grant’s name pencilled in as a potential Socceroos bolter for the 2018 World Cup, the right-back didn’t see his injury as costing him a spot in Russia.

“Not particularly,” he said. “I was in and around the Socceroos, but I didn’t make the last couple of camps before I got injured so it wasn’t like I was a shoo-in there to be selected or picked to play.

“I was just stoked to be amongst it and then when the injury happened, it ruled out any immediate goals I had.

“You do wonder and you ponder but at the same time I wasn’t expecting to be in there so  it wasn’t like it was a massive shock for me.”

With Sydney FC thrashing the Wanderers 3-0 in the FFA Cup semi-final, Grant was sure the Sky Blues will have the upper hand for Saturday night’s blockbuster derby at the SCG.

“Definitely,” he said. “That is no different from any team you play. The result we have had from them in the last couple of games we are confident we will go in get the same results as we have been.

“Looking at our most recent performances against them, and our most recent results, we are quietly confident we can go there and get the three points.

“I’m also stoked to be playing at the SCG, it’s a pretty iconic venue.”