The 5-6, 152-pound player says his game has been likened to that of former Spanish legend Xavi, the midfield maestro who pulled the string for Barcelona for many years and the Spanish national team.

“I have to keep the ball mostly, create chances, know what’s going on around me… that’s key for a midfielder,” Uccello said.

A member of the TFC organization since he was 15, Uccello played semi-pro for TFC in League 1 Ontario in 2014 before joining TFC II last year. Before coming to TFC he played minor soccer in Kleinburg helping his team win a national championship.

He said his dad Frank and brother Julian have been major influences in his development over the years but said the training he has received at TFC has been key to his improvement as a player.

As for playing pro in Vaughan, his hometown, Uccello said it’s a great experience.

“There are soccer fans everywhere here. It’s one of the best feelings to play in front of your family and friends,” he said.

And he said his goal is just to become “more consistent. That’s the biggest thing for young players, to improve all the time, to listen to what your coaches say, to try not to have bad games.”

For Bent, Uccello’s most important characteristic as a player is, “his soccer brain. He’s quite comfortable and he has a good engine where he can get up and down the pitch.”

Bent, who played 32 times for Canada in his own soccer career as a pro, is looking forward to a successful season for TFC II. But he said the team isn’t overconfident either.

“We’ve started the season quite well… but we’re trying to stay humble and just go about our business,” he said.