Scott Hogan wondered where his life was going as he flipped tyres on a factory floor.
Now, he is the player who was promoted to the Premier League twice in the one season.
The Ireland striker refuses to count parent club Aston Villa’s playoff success as a career highlight as he had no meaningful role in it.
He watched the Wembley decider against Derby County from Portugal, where Ireland had their training camp before these qualifiers.
But Sheffield United’s return to the big time was special for him after a successful loan spell with the Blades.
Wherever his club future lies, Salford man Hogan intends savouring any success that comes his way having worked hard to get here.
“Every time I win, every time I score, it’s proving someone wrong when I was 18, 19, 20, 21 when I wasn’t playing football,” he said.
“I was working in warehouses, playing non-league and no one thought I was good enough.
“I started to think I wasn’t good enough. So every time I score, it is just a little reminder that I’m here on my own merits.”
Hogan continued: “I did a few cleaning jobs but the most mentally challenging job was working in a tyre recycling plant - and I’m talking big tyres.
“I was literally picking one up, putting it on a belt, picking another one up, putting it on a belt, and that was your day. Nothing changed. I did that for about four months.
“I still drive past there some days as it’s near the house, and I say to the missus, ‘I’m never going back there again’.”
Hogan was paid £280-a-week and played non-league for Irlam Town and their pub team - Irlam Social Pub - in the Eccles Sunday League..
He said: “It shapes you. At the time you’re not thinking about being a footballer. You’re thinking ‘I hate my life, I don’t know where I’m going here’
“And then all of a sudden luck plays a massive part and you end up where you are.”
Hogan - who made his Irish debut in Turkey last year - came off the bench in Copenhagen and will hope for a role against Gibraltar tomorrow.
Ireland’s strikers have been anything but prolific of late but Hogan said: “It’s all about winning and it doesn’t matter who scores.
“We could get to the Euros and a striker may score just one goal along the way. But you’d take that.”
But Hogan will have to rearrange his wedding if Ireland qualify for the finals.
He is due to get married on June 12, 2020 and said: “That's the first day of the Euros!
“If it has to get moved, it will - either forward or back. We booked it last year and I just sat down and said to my missus ‘yeah, go with that’.
“She is pregnant now as well, so I’ve got a busy 12-18 months ahead of me.”
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