Cheltenham Town midfielder Darren Carter aiming to roll back the years against Everton in FA Cup third round "It was the worst case scenario all sorts of things did cross my mind," Carter says. And I did look at different avenues. It made me think about what I would do if it was coming to an end. Money was not tight - but he was not earning any either. The Professional Footballers" Association helped pay for an operation while Birmingham took him back and helped with his rehab. "They looked after me," Carter says. But the uncertainty of not knowing what was round the corner was the worst thing. Mentally it was quite tricky. People say 'oh, you're only 28" but I started to question whether I'd be offered a contract. I just wanted to get back and prove myself again. There was a depressing moment when he went on the PFA's website and scrolled through the long, long list of players - including himself - searching for clubs. "Times are tough in football," Carter says. You read through the hundreds of names and you just think 'how the hell have they not got clubs. This year you look at someone like Nigel Reo-Coker who has played in the Premier League for years and still has a lot left in his career. If there are the calibre of players like that then it can happen to anyone. There's a real ruthless side to football so if the opportunity is there you have to take it. The opportunity came, after almost a year out, at Cheltenham. A six-month contract was offered and accepted and Carter dropped down the divisions. Last year I was saying to people 'you are quickly forgotten in football. One bad injury and you are out. That's it; you're done. So you have to grind it out sometimes. And, at times, it has been a "grind" in League Two even if fourth-placed Cheltenham are one of the more progressive sides under manager Mark Yates. "Sometimes you have to stand up and be counted," Carter says. There are games when it's more of a battle but there's also still a lot of quality in the league. He and Cheltenham are relishing Everton's arrival. "Last year the lads got to play Spurs at White Hart Lane at this stage of the cup so the opportunity to play against a good, solid team like Everton who are flying high in the Premier League and who have plenty of internationals and high-quality players is great for us as a team, but also as individuals as well, to test ourselves," Carter says. It's a benchmark for me personally to see where I am at and it's going to be nice playing against that quality of player again. January is a vital month for him - and not just because of the cup-tie. On January 23 his six-month contract is up - and a new deal is yet to be agreed. "We're going to sit down and talk about it," Carter says. At the start this was a chance for me to get back playing and I was grateful. It suited everyone at that point and I've just been enjoying playing again and waiting for this period to come and see what's next. However the game against Everton, in front of the television cameras at Cheltenham's stadium, is not, he insists "a shop window" for him. "I don't look at it like that," Carter says. But every game is a chance to prove yourself. This game, of course, is a big one. As big, possibly, as that play-off final. I always thought I'd be lucky to match that elation. But that's what you strive for.