Just over five years ago Adam Lallana was lining up as a Southampton player in League One.

Today he’s reflecting on being selected in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the World Cup in Brazil and making his Champions League debut for Liverpool.

On September 19, 2009, the midfielder was playing for the Saints in a third-tier fixture against Yeovil Town at St Mary’s.

Playing in front of a crowd of just under 20,000, Southampton secured their first win of the season thanks to goals from fellow Liverpool teammate Rickie Lambert.

However at the time, very few would have predicted the fairytale journey in which the St Albans-born playmaker has been on.

Five years later, Lallana can reflect on a career path that has seen him climb the Football League ladder and apply his trade in the Premier League, a summer trip to Brazil to play in the World Cup for England and now a big money move to play in the Champions League for Liverpool.

Nevertheless, the 26-year-old has little time for contemplation. Speaking on the Liverpool FC website, Lallana said: “I’m always trying to get better. I’m training day in, day out with world-class players, so it’s great for me to continue my learning process, keep working hard and trying to get even better.

“It’s just so exciting. Five years ago I was playing in League One with Southampton. We gradually progressed up the leagues, but I never thought I’d be competing in the Champions League.

“Just looking at the fixtures now, going to the Bernabeu and having Madrid here at Anfield, there’s going to be a cracking atmosphere. We feel confident we can get results.”

“The target is to play as many games as possible, get as fit as possible and get back to my best, playing well and winning in a Liverpool shirt.”

However, Lallana has had his fair share of setbacks. Not long after he signed a long-term contract at the Anfield club, he sustained a knee injury in Boston back in July that delayed the start of his Liverpool career.

A six-week spell on the Melwood treatment table meant Anfield’s new No. 20 could make his maiden appearance for the club until he featured in a sobering 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

A few days later Lallana continued his return from injury and search for match fitness by playing a further 67 against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League last Tuesday.

Every minute has its benefits as Lallana searches for the kind of match sharpness that saw him named in last season’s Premier League Team of the Year.

Lallana may have only been a Red for fewer than 10 weeks, but he’s quickly come to realise that there’s something unique about Liverpool Football Club.

Expectation at such a big club is something the 26-year-old is going to have to adjust too. Having narrowly missed out on their first top flight title in 24 years last season, the Reds will again be looming to make progress in the Premier League and cement their spot in the top four.

Reds fans will also be expecting a return to silverware having seen Brendan Rodgers spend over £100m in the summer transfer market. A new, exciting, young squad with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Phillipe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic could enable Lallana to hit another level and bring trophies back to Anfield.

So, now fully recovered from injury, edging closer to match fitness, debuts in the World Cup, Premier League and Champions League under his belt, Adam Lallana is ready to take the next step in his career.