It’s been quite the rookie year for 20 year old Toronto FC fullback Ashtone Morgan. The Toronto native and TFC Academy Graduate made his professional debut in March in TFC’s home opener win over Portland and it has been a steady progression for the talented youngster over the course of his first season in the MLS. In recent weeks some very impressive play has seen Morgan cement a place in Aron Winter’s starting eleven and the recent news that he has earned his first call up to the Canadian Men’s National Team seems very much like a natural evolution for one of the young Canadians who has genuinely impressed the Canadian soccer community in 2011 with both his play and his attitude.
As for Morgan himself, he humbly admits that being called up for Canada’s October World Cup qualifying matches against St. Lucia and Puerto Rico is something that nicely caps off the success he has had in recent weeks in both the MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League.
“Yeah, it definitely (caps off my first season in the MLS nicely). It's been a long season, but a good wait, because at the end of the season a lot of things have been happening for me. I'm seeing a lot of playing time and this is like the cherry on top. It's really good,” says Morgan.
While this will be his first training camp and matches with the Canadian National Team, the U-16 and U-20 Canadian International is no stranger to the national team program and Morgan is well aware that he is going to have to keep working hard if he is to earn any playing time against St. Lucia and Puerto Rico.
“The coaching staff is made up of familiar faces. I've been around them for a while, but there will be some new faces on the pitch. (Hart) just told me to be ready and he let me know that it is going to be hard work and to just keep working and to keep doing what I have been doing.”
In terms of what he wants to take from his first experience with the Senior National team, Morgan just wants to use the next week and a half to get more experience and to continue to improve as a young player by competing against challenging opponents and playing with the best players that Canada has to offer. He is also looking forward to training with, learning from and competing for playing time with fellow MLS left back, Ante Jazic of Chivas USA.
“I just want to get as much experience as I can and get used to the guys on the team and just take what I can from the camp and to try to get better every day. I'm definitely looking forward to spending time with Ante and looking to him to guide me in that position as well. And hopefully he can push me to be better and hopefully I can push him in terms of fighting for the position.”
Asked if it will be a big adjustment to switch from the tactical approach that Aron Winter preaches to the formation and tactics that Stephen Hart implements, Morgan does not feel that his role will be all that different as a left back with Canada than it is with TFC.
“I think they are fairly similar approaches in terms of how the fullbacks get up the field and help the attack. I think that will suit me a lot and I'm looking forward to it.”
With Canada’s match against Puerto Rico on October 11th taking place in Toronto at his usual stomping ground, BMO Field, Morgan could quite possibly play his first World Cup qualifying match in his hometown in front of friends and family, as well as his regularly cheering section of Toronto FC supporters. While the Torontonian isn’t taking anything for granted, he does admit that such a scenario is one that be something akin to a dream come true in terms of the ideal place to kick off his Senior International career.
“For me it would be great to play with my national team in my home city. I was born downtown and it's just a great feeling to have, to play for your city and to play for your country at the same time. I will have a lot of friends and family coming out for sure.”
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