At age 29, Junior Hoilett is still a young man. But it was pointed out to him the other day, as he briefly took stock of a global soccer career that’s seen him earn an enviable existence in Britain’s Premiership, among other leagues, that he’s spent more than half his young life residing abroad.

Once a prodigy from Brampton who dominated against fellow Canadians two or three years his senior, he left home at age 13 to sign with Britain’s Blackburn Rovers. It was an overseas journey dotted with bouts of homesickness and more than the occasional hassle, including a lengthy battle to secure a work permit in England. And it came a few years before Toronto FC made its debut in Major League Soccer, long before Canada had a list of professional clubs with developmental academies built to turn promising youngsters into pros. If Hoilett was 13 today, in other words, perhaps a transatlantic relocation wouldn’t have been necessary.

“I think I’d have had more options. Now, maybe you don’t have to rush abroad,” Hoilett said in an interview. “Now you can take your time and try to stay home and make your name at home … Back in the day, there was no outlet for youngsters. You had to make that step (overseas) to follow your dream.”

Not that Hoilett is complaining. Though he’s spending his current club season outside the English Premier League — his Cardiff City FC was relegated to the second-tier Championship after a tumultuous 2018-19 — he’s spent this week at a luxury hotel on Bloor Street, where Canada’s men’s national team has domiciled itself in preparation for Saturday’s CONCACAF Nations League game against Cuba at BMO Field. Though the team is coming off a disappointing loss to Haiti in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup back in June — an undeniable setback in coach John Herdman’s long-shot quest to qualify for the 2022 World Cup — this next window of international play, which features home-and-away sets with Cuba and the United States, offers new hope.

For Hoilett, it’ll also be an opportunity for another joyous homecoming. Herdman joked that “half the stadium” will consist of members of Hoilett’s family on Saturday. And if that’s a stretch, the coach said Hoilett will be shelling out “a lot of money” for tickets for various and sundry loved ones.

“If you know Junior, coming home, playing at home is a big pull for him,” Herdman said. “I think that tells you a little bit about the guy. He’s a guy that cares. He cares about this shirt. He cares about his family. He cares about taking this country to a new level of respect. And that’s why he turns up every time.”

Herdman, of course, has set the bar high in Canada’s mission to reinvent itself as an international contender. Still, even the ever-optimistic coach acknowledges that qualifying for the 2022 World Cup will require an epic effort. One of the best routes, after all, would require Canada making a considerable jump in the FIFA world rankings in the coming months. Their current position, wedged between Iraq and Curacao at world No. 78, puts them eighth among CONCACAF nations. A near-term goal would be to leapfrog over Panama and El Salvador into sixth among CONCACAF teams — a feat that would land Canada in a six-country hexagonal playoff beginning next June from which the top three teams qualify for the World Cup.

Getting into the “hex,” as it’s known, won’t be easy. Canada would likely need to beat Cuba, the world No. 179, in both legs of the Nations League while adding, say, a win and a draw against the 22nd-ranked Americans en route to qualifying for the Nations Cup final four. Never mind that Canada hasn’t defeated the U.S. since 1985. Herdman said the Canadians would likely need to win the final four to earn sufficient ranking points for hex inclusion.

“We’re optimistic, but this year we’d almost need a perfect season to qualify for the hex,” Herdman said. “And if we don’t, we’ve got to get ready for the next hero’s journey.”

That “hero’s journey” would consist of a 12-match odyssey in pursuit of one of the last remaining spots for the World Cup.

“That would probably be one of the most unbelievable football stories if we ended up qualifying for a World Cup after 12 matches and a year and a half,” Herdman acknowledged.

In other words, don’t bet big money on seeing the maple leaf represented at the world’s biggest sporting event until 2026, when Canada will join Mexico and the United States in hosting the tournament in North America. Which is not to say Herdman doesn’t see tremendous value in attempting to scale this daunting peak.

“I look at this U.S. match (Oct. 15 at BMO Field), this is exactly what this team needs,” Herdman said. “We wanted these hard games. This is what these guys are getting out of bed for. And we know we have to play these hard games if we’re ever going to compete at a World Cup.”

For Hoilett, the dream of being a part of Canada’s first World Cup berth since 1986 still tantalizes, still keeps him coming home for moments like Saturday. At age 29, he’s still a young man. But he’s a veteran who knows his role.

“My journey is to help the youngsters, to help Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David along in their progression,” Hoilett said.

On Saturday, to that end, Herdman said Hoilett will wear the arm band as Canada’s captain.

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“I’m sure it’ll be a proud moment for him,” said the coach. “He’s lived. He’s lived big moments and big games. He’s had to fight for that respect himself in the toughest leagues in the world. And with that comes an inner strength. I love that about Junior. He’s a quiet guy, but there’s a quiet inner strength to him that I think the players see.”

Said Hoilett: “Most of my life I’ve been abroad, but all my family’s here. I was born here. My heart’s still here. And I love playing here.”