It’s easy to forget Toronto FC’s Jordan Hamilton.

Try as he might, the club’s 21-year-old striker often is swallowed up by TFC’s big name players, the guys hogging the spotlight.

Sebastian Giovinco’s a global star. Jozy Altidore might be TFC’s best player right now.

Both play Hamilton’s position.

Still, the Scarborough, Ont.-born forward is making the best of his opportunities.

His .50 goals-per-game average (in all competitions) proves when Hamilton is on the pitch, his impact is felt.

“Jordan has big talent,” Michael Bradley said following TFC’s 2-0 win over DC United last weekend.

“He’s a young player, but he’s a player who little by little is getting big experience under his belt.”

His teammates rave about far more than his on-field talent and potential.

What Hamilton brings to the dressing room also stands out.

“He’s an unbelievable kid,” Bradley added. “He has a personality, he’s funny, he has a huge heart and every guy on the inside of this locker room cares for him in a big way.”

Before becoming a contributor for TFC’s senior team, Hamilton had a brief loan stint with Portuguese side C.D. Trofense that tested the young forward’s resiliency. He had to fight for playing time, while combating neglect from his European teammates.

But instead of letting that experience deter him, Hamilton displayed resiliency and learned from the experience.

It helped him keep the bigger picture in perspective and get to where he is now.

“We continue to challenge him (Hamilton) every day to improve his total package, so that he’s a more complete forward, a guy who the team can count on in the toughest of moments,” Bradley added.

Like Wednesday night in Montreal, where the Reds will be in tough to earn a positive result in the first leg of the Canadian Championship final.

“We all see the talent he has,” Bradley said moments after Hamilton’s second-half goal Saturday night made it 2-0. “And now it’s up to him, but it’s also up to us to push it (his talent) along in the right ways.”

With limited miles on the odometer­ at this point in his career, Hamilton relishes­ every chance he gets on the pitch.

“I think I’ve been doing pretty good,” Hamilton said, adding he has benefited from repetitions with TFC II.

On a team full of veteran talent, Hamilton is making it impossible to ignore his progress.

jweinstein@postmedia.com

@joshhweinstein