The top scoring Englisman whose goals have set up Messi and Neymar showdown

That was Rhys Healey's response when asked what he would have said if, when he was on loan at the likes of Colchester United and Dundee, he had been told he would, one day, face Lionel Messi.

And that's something he could do next season, after his goals helped Toulouse win promotion to Ligue 1.

Manchester-born Healey told talkSPORT: "[Colchester and Dundee] were my toughest loans. I had them when I was young, inexperienced, and I just didn't know what to expect.

"At that point, I would've thought I'd have been in England somewhere and probably not as successful as I am at the moment.

"It's been a long and tough road to get to where I am now."

And that road has eventually taken him to the south of France and, more specifically, Toulouse, where the 20 goals he scored in Ligue 2 has fired Les Violets to the French top flight.

But, as he said, it hasn't been a smooth journey to get to where he is now.

After moving to Wales as a teenager, the striker began his career with Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads, before Cardiff signed him at 19.

A handful of appearances for the Bluebirds followed, with his first coming against Chelsea in 2013, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him his debut against Jose Mourinho's Blues.

But Healey regularly found himself out on loan, first to Colchester and Dundee, then to Newport County and Torquay United, before he went to MK Dons and decided to stay.

He signed permanently for the League One side in 2019 (after helping them to promotion from League Two during a loan spell a season earlier), scoring 11 goals in 18 games, before the COVID pandemic cut the season short.

Healey was settled, in the form of his career, and playing under Russell Martin - who he describes as the 'best manager I've had by an absolute mile' - but a call from Toulouse president Damien Comolli was enough to persuade him to make the bold move across the English Channel.

The ex-Tottenham and Liverpool director of football approached Healey about a possible transfer to Europe - something that came completely out of 'le bleu'.

"I was very shocked," he recalled. "I didn't expect any foreign clubs to come in for me.

"I was just enjoying my day with a few of the players MK Dons and my agent called me and told me that Toulouse were interested in me.

"Something dragged me into it and pulled me to come over here and challenge myself.

"I think it was how much they wanted me to come over and I think it was only right for me to go and challenge myself in this league."

Healey's first season at the club was a successful one on a personal level, having scored 15 goals, but Toulouse lost their promotion play-off final to Nantes.

Ex-Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier was then appointed ahead of the 2021/22 season, and he led them back to France's top flight for the first time since 2019.

Montanier's time at the City Ground lasted just seven months after a disappointing spell and, whilst Healey was apprehensive when he first arrived, he was soon put at ease after the first conversation with his new boss.

"I didn't know what to expect [when Montanier came in]," he said.

"But, when I met him, his first words were, 'F***ing English man, I love an English player!' So, I was happy to hear that.

"He would be the first one to tell me that I didn't play great, but he would say it was normal to have some bad games and that I was going to be leading the line again next week.

"It was an amazing feeling to be loved like that. It all comes down to trust, and for him to trust me week in, week out has made my game even better this year."

Toulouse's promotion means Healey will be playing in Ligue 1 next season, against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Marseille, and Lille.

Whilst it looks likely that a couple of PSG's superstars could leave the club this summer, Messi looks likely to remain in the French capital.

Healey is a player that isn't short of confidence on the pitch - but off it is a different story, and his introversion could see him miss out on one of the most sought after football shirts in the world.

He said: "[Messi]'s like a God in football. To even be on the same pitch as him would be mind-blowing.

"But I'm not sure I'd ask for his shirt because I'm a bit shy when it comes to seeing big players like that!

"But, if I get the opportunity to share the same pitch as him, it'll be something I'll remember for the rest of my life and tell my kids because he's one of the greatest footballers ever to walk on this planet.

"It's just amazing to be able to be competing in the same league as him."

His nervousness also almost saw him miss out on Eden Hazard's shirt when he made his Cardiff debut against the Belgian superstar, before a classy touch from the now Real Madrid man put that right.

Healey said: "I remember when I was on the pitch, just looking at [Hazard] and thinking, 'Wow, this is unbelievable.' I wasn't even looking at the ball at times!

"I walked into the changing room, everyone was clapping me and then the kitman just came in with his shirt for me.

"He had told the kitman to come and give it to me. I'm really shy if I don't know people and I'm still a bit gutted I didn't get him to sign it because it was the last time he wore the No.17.

"But my dad's got that now, I don't think I'll ever see it again!"

There have been reports linking Healey with a move back to England this summer, with West Ham and West Brom both said to be interested in the 27-year-old.

But he insists that he and his family are happy on the continent and, when it comes to football, he's only got one thing on his mind.

"What will be will be, I'll just keep scoring goals."