Owen Garvan back on the big stage with Colchester United

The period between his last game against Tottenham Hotspur two-and-a-half years ago and today’s meeting with the Premier League high flyers in the FA Cup has taught Owen Garvan much about the fickle nature of football.

Back in August 2013, the Irishman had finally arrived on the top-flight stage, fresh from helping Crystal Palace to promotion, and seemingly on course to reassert his claims for an international breakthrough.

A very public falling-out with then manager Ian Halloway restricted his Premier League tenancy to just one more game, a precursor to a period in the wilderness compounded by injury woes and a couple of brief loan stints with Millwall and Bolton.