The English accent is slight, but it's there.

Two years of playing soccer with Fulham FC's academy in southwest London is obviously beginning to rub off on Harrison Paton.

"I love it here," the Waterloo native said when reached by phone Friday.

It has been another banner year for the Kitchener minor soccer product who continues to chase his dream of playing professionally with one of England's storied football franchises.

The midfielder was up for Canada Soccer's Under-17 player of the year award earlier this month. The nod went to Vancouver Whitecaps prospect Kadin Chung but being a finalist for the second consecutive year was a big deal for Paton.

"I'm very patriotic toward my country," he said. "Being nominated again is a great achievement."

It's easy for him to get excited when he looks back at the past year on the pitch as he's made good strides at home and abroad.

The 17-year-old is enjoying a more prominent role during his second campaign with Fulham FC's U18 squad. He also made his debut with Canada's U20 side last month in Mexico.

The ascent is no surprise for Mario Halapir, who coached Paton for years in Kitchener minor soccer.

"He was a kid that I think if I asked him to train at midnight he'd have no issues coming in," said Halapir, who runs Elite Athletes International Soccer Academy and coaches the men's team at Wilfrid Laurier University.

"He was so dedicated. He never missed a training session and works hard. He's immersed in soccer. He lives and breathes it."

Paton left Kitchener for a trio of trials with Championship clubs - Queens Park Rangers, Brentford and Fulham - two years ago. The Cottagers were impressed by the small but skilled Canuck and signed him to their academy.

He's been living with billets and training at Motspur Park ever since.

"It was a big adjustment," he said. "The style of play was a lot different. The quality here is miles better. The atmosphere of football in England is a lot better than in Canada."

Paton is still searching for his first marker. But developing - not scoring goals - is his main objective. With a U18 team stacked with talent, just getting playing time with Fulham is a fight.

So far, the 5-foot-9, 145-pound Canadian is holding his own.

"I'm pretty quick and agile so I can get around the big players," he said. "I get the ball in and out as quick as possible so I'm not taking too many touches where I can get challenged."

Fulham recently advanced to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, which is a knockout style tournament that crowns England's top U18 squad. The Cottagers lost to Chelsea in the final last year in the battle for ultimate bragging rights among youngsters.

That, along with regular season play and national team duties, is keeping Paton busy. It's also helping him on his path toward his goals of inking a pro deal, playing for Fulham's first team and representing Canada abroad.

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Halapir has faith it could happen.

"He has unbelievable physical ability," he said. "His agility is exceptional, his lateral movement is second to none and his first step is quick.

"I hope for the best for him because I think he deserves it. It's such a tough thing especially for kids from here making it over there."