Jason Davidson has taken a long and winding road from Melbourne to England.

Japan, Portugal, Holland and the Black Country have all been stopping-off points for the 23-year-old Australian international, who is in line to fill Huddersfield Town’s ‘problem’ left-back berth.

He’s also just been to the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan with the Socceroos.

Davidson comes from good footballing stock – his dad Alan, a right-back or midfielder, made 79 appearances for Australia and had a spell at Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough.

Alan’s maternal Japanese lineage was a big factor in Jason entering that country’s football development system at the age of 14.

He spent three years at the prestigious Seiritsu Gakuen school.

“It’s a culture built on hard work and responsibility,” explained Alan.

“Most importantly, it’s one of the best in terms of the junior football and development infrastructure.

“The day we dropped him off over there, he was told he could have no contact with the family for the first three months.

“We were told the aim was to weed out the weaker players, and Jason certainly went through hardship.

“He told me the worst part was missing family and the loneliness. But now, we’re very grateful for the mental strength and discipline.”

At 17, Davidson, who had started out as a striker before becoming a left-back, returned to Australia, played for Hume City and won the Victorian Premier League’s Under 21 player of the year award.

Jason Davidson playing for West Bromwich Albion
Jason Davidson playing for West Bromwich Albion

That helped secure a contract with Portuguese side Paos de Ferreira in September 2009, by which time he was representing Australia at Under 20 level.

He moved to the Dutch top flight with Heracles in January 2012 and in the August of that year, made his full Australia debut against Scotland in Edinburgh.

After 51 club appearances and three for Australia at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, Davidson signed for West Bromwich Albion.

He agreed two-year terms with the Premier League side having the option of a further 12 months.

But things didn’t work out at The Hawthorns, where Alan Irvine was manager when Davidson made his move.

He made only five appearances, and didn’t feature under Irvine’s successor Tony Pulis, who released Davidson in May.

The 18-times capped player, who helped Australia win this year’s Asian Cup, explained: “Sometimes coaches love you and sometimes you don’t fit their style.

“You have to respect that and we mutually agreed to move on.

“I think West Brom respected me as a person and as a player and allowed me the opportunity to see where I go next.

““The most important thing for me is to be happy and play week in, week out. I need to make sure this is a big season for me.”