Defender Phillip Cancar feels he left Western Sydney Wanderers as a kid but is returning as a man.
Three seasons on with European experience in his boots, the 24-year-old has come full circle.
Cancar spent a season abroad in Scotland before signing with Newcastle Jets for the last two A-League seasons.
After inking a new deal with the Wanderers in June, Cancar is "pinching himself" and can't wait to get on the pitch against A-League champions Melbourne City on Saturday.
"I always had my eye on the Wanderers to see what they were doing," Cancar told AAP.
"I pretty much left as a kid, and I've come back more of a man.
"I've been just learning life outside of football, and then also experiencing a lot with football, going overseas, coming back, playing through the ups and downs."
But before putting pen to paper, Cancar said coach Alen Stajcic gave the 24-year-old an honest appraisal of his performances.
"He told me how it was going to be, what I'd have to do, what I need to improve on, what he thinks I'm good at," Cancar said.
"Honestly, I was just at home with my family, and the boss texted me to see if I would be interested in having a chat with him.
"All of a sudden, everything was happening very fast, and the next thing you know it was official."
Western Sydney lost key players in the off-season who led them to a fourth-place finish last season with midfielder Oscar Priestman, winger Nicolas Milanovic and Zac Sapsford heading to Scotland.
But they welcomed six new signings, including Kiwi international Kosta Barbarouses, A-League champion Steven Ugarkovic and former Western United midfielder Angus Thurgate.
The Wanderers also signed Alou Kuol from the Central Coast Mariners to fill the attacking void.
Koul says he is already at ease because he and his teammates are on a nickname basis.
His teammates call him 'De Conde' after a former African football player.
"The name is very special to me," Kuol told AAP. "It's a good nickname that I grew up with, and I'm just happy to wear it."
