IT wasn’t so long ago that academy graduate Sam McQueen had begun to give up on his Saints dream.

The 21-year-old reflects that when he moved on loan to League One Southend United last season he thought that his “opportunities in football maybe elsewhere” and not at St Mary’s.

But, thanks in part to the faith he holds in his own ability and to Claude Puel’s sharp eye for potential, which saw him converted from wide midfielder to full-back, McQueen has made his once fading dream a reality.

The Southampton-born youngster, who has taken his chance at left-back with Matt Targett and Ryan Bertrand injured, is now hoping to make his third start in a row against Sunderland in the EFL Cup fourth round tonight.

It comes after an incredible week in which he made his first start against Inter Milan at the San Siro and his second at Premier League leaders Manchester City.

“It did go through my mind partly,” he said, when asked if he thought that it would never happen for him at Saints. “You go out on loan because you want to learn so you can come back here and play, but I was thinking maybe my opportunities in football maybe elsewhere in the future.

“But as soon as I came back here in pre-season it was that I wanted to hit the ground running and give my absolute best shot to try and get in the team here.

“It wasn’t definite in my head, but I just needed to prepare for every opportunity and any way that it could go.”

It was against tonight’s opponents, Sunderland, that McQueen made his Saints debut in February 2014, as an 82nd-minute substitute in an FA Cup match at the Stadium of Light.

But that brief outing was not a catalyst for more games and the former Mountbatten School pupil headed to Roots Hall last January in search of first team football.

“A lot of people say that going out on loan is almost a negative thing, the way it shows that you’re not needed at the club,” he explains. “I may not have gone there and learnt how to play on huge occasions, but I learnt a lot about first team football.

“I learnt about the things I should and shouldn’t be doing in first team football.

“Even though there weren't huge stadiums or huge occasions, it was still in front of a good few thousand fans.

“I have thought about it and I think it was very beneficial for when I came on against Burnley and in other games.

“It’s a taste of it. Even if it’s not the real deal, it’s a taste of it and does prepare you a lot.

“I was very grateful to Southend for the opportunity I got and I did learn.”

There were plans for another loan move to Southend this summer, but McQueen caught Puel’s eye while on a pre-season trip to America.

He then played in warm-up matches as a full back, a position he continued in for the club’s under-23s before Puel came calling for services with Targett and Bertrand crocked.

McQueen, who is a Saints fan, came on for Targett against Burnley before playing against Inter and City.

“It’s what you dream of,” he said. “It’s what you’d ask for.

“If you wanted to have your first few games for your club, then you’d want big games at big places, which I’ve had the opportunity to do.

“I’m just happy and grateful for that and also very grateful that it’s gone well so far.”

“I’ve haven’t reflected too much,” he added. “I’ve sorted of just got to get ready for the next game because Berty and Matty are still out injured, so I need to make sure I’m ready if I’m needed.

“I haven’t thought too much about what’s happened. I’m more worried about what’s going to happen. I’ve just been getting ready for the next game and getting mentally prepared.”

McQueen now sees the Black Cats match tonight as the perfect opportunity for more of the club’s academy players to make their breakthrough.

“Everyone’s ready for it,” he said. “It’s been said around the club quite a lot how good the strength in depth has been.

“When people come in and get their chance everyone’s taken it and it gives the manager problems for his team selection, which is a good thing.

“Hopefully there will be opportunities for people to get in and around the team again on Wednesday and, if they do, I know Harrison Reed and Jack Stephens will be absolutely ready for it and take their chance.”