It might come as no surprise that being released from Walsall was the best thing that has happened to Ryan Woods in his fledgling career.

But the fact he turned down advances from Aston Villa and Birmingham City would probably raise more than a few eyebrows.

Ultimately, the 21-year-old has ended up at Brentford via a successful spell at League One Shrewsbury Town , who took a chance on the pint-sized midfielder dubbed ‘the ginger Pirlo’.

And the Liverpool fan is keen to live up to his nickname at Griffin Park, if only to prove little guys can play the game, too.

“I started off at Norton Keynes FC, I played my first game for them and got scouted for Aston Villa and Birmingham City,” he said about his route to senior league football.

“I didn’t really enjoy it at those two clubs when I was there. The opportunity came to join Walsall when I was 11, but I got released when I was 15. They said I was too small.

“Luckily enough, somebody I knew was a scout for Shrewsbury. He got me a trial there. I played one game and I was signed as a 15-year-old.

“It was probably the best thing that happened to me – getting released from Walsall and joining Shrewsbury – because since joining Shrewsbury I have become the player I am today.

“You’ve only got to look at the best players in the world. Messi is a lot shorter than I am. Iniesta, Xavi, none of them are much bigger than 5ft 9in.

“You don’t have to be big to play football.”

Woods pitched up in west London on transfer deadline day in September after coming to the attention of head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen and co-directors of football Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankerson.

He made his debut as a substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds United, which also featured a goal from fellow debutant Marco Djuricin.

While Woods is yet to make his first start for his new club, he is confident that is not far away.

And when it happens he believes fans will certainly have not seen the last of him.

“I’ve come here to progress as a player and as person,” he added.

“The club is hoping to do the same thing. It is really exciting time. I can’t wait to see what happens.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I could play football very week. That is my main aim.

“I feel like I’ve settled in really well, but I want to just get on with it.”

He added: “It wouldn’t be the best move to go to a club that doesn’t pass the ball. That is my game.

“I want to get on the ball and I have noticed straight away that this is going to be a footballing team.

“This is a club definitely on the up. I’m excited to be part of the transition the club and myself are going to go through over the next few years.”

And as for his nickname?

“He [Andrea Pirlo] is a fantastic player. If I can be half the player he has been and have half the career he has had, then I will be doing all right for myself,” he said.

l David Button made his 100th appearance for the Bees in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, a game that featured a goal from Lasse Vibe.