It was showtime for one aspiring member of FC Edmonton on Sunday.

Shamit Shome once again started at midfield for Team Canada in a U-20 international friendly against heavily favoured England at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday.

But it was Canada coming away with a 2-1 upset over their hosts, who were led by 18-year-old Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

“Shamit Shome has played both 90 minutes, one in a defeat to England and then, of course, yesterday’s fantastic result against England,” Eddies head coach Colin Miller said Monday. “It’s always good to beat the English, as a Scotsman, but Shamit Shome is a player we have very high hopes for in the future.”

A graduate of the FC Edmonton Academy, the 18-year-old Shome played for his hometown University of Alberta Golden Bears in 2015 before signing on with the Eddies in February.

He still has yet to feature in a game with the first team, but that will likely change as early as Saturday’s season-opener in Oklahoma.

“He’ll make the road trip with us this weekend,” Miller said. “And not just for pat-on-the-back reasons, he’s actually earned the right to travel. One of our best players in pre-season, he has really matured.

“He’s a very intelligent young man, not just school-wise, but he’s also football intelligent. When a coach asks him something, he wants to do his best at implementing it.”

Spending Monday on the long trip back to Edmonton, Shome couldn’t be reached for comment. Fortunately, his coach had plenty to say about him.

“I think the world is his oyster. He’s a very talented young man,” Miller said. “He’s quick, he can play in a number of different positions. If Shamit plays this weekend, I have no reservations about putting him on the field, that’s how much he has impressed here in the pre-season.”

IN AND OUT: FC Edmonton defender Marko Aleksic had also been chosen to play for Canada but was forced to bow out due to injury.

“Marko Aleksic and Shamit were both with the Canadian camp,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, Marko picked up an Achilles injury, so I don’t think the big fellow featured in the games.

“I’m really disappointed that young Marko didn’t get a chance to play because he also has had a very good pre-season.”

gerry.moddejonge@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/SunModdejonge