In a couple of years Caolan Lavery will have a tough choice to make on where his national soccer loyalties lie.

But for the next couple of weeks Soccer Canada is just happy to have the skilled striker in a Canadian kit.

The 16-year-old Red Deer native is set to join the rest of the U-17 Canadian National team in Mexico for a series of exhibition games that is designed to prepare the team for the CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football) U-17 World Cup Qualifying Tournament next year.

“It means a lot because there are only two of us from Alberta to make it . . . and no one ever expects anyone from Red Deer to get picked because we’re so little,” said Lavery who scored twice in the final game of the tryout process. “It will come down to training in Mexico if I start or not. But I see myself as having a real good chance to start.”

The other Albertan is striker Jordan Ongaro out of Edmonton. During nationals in Quebec, while playing for Team Alberta, the two dominated, combining for 15 goals in five games.

“It helps a lot (knowing Ongaro) because you know what he’s going to do before he does it,” said Lavery. “It helps knowing the guy personally because you just click that way, you just gel better.”

The issue at hand for Lavery revolves around the fact he can commit to play for Ireland, Northern Ireland or Canada when he turns 18 as both his parents were born in Ireland and he currently carries a passport for all three countries. But the kicker is, once he makes that decision and plays one game for that nation, there is no turning back, he has to play for that country the rest of his life.

For Canadian raised hockey players it’s an easy decision if that opportunity arises as Canada is one of the world powers in the sport.

But in soccer, the opposite situation exists.

Ireland is a Top 25 country in soccer which opens the doors to playing in big international tournaments and being a contender. Meanwhile the Canadian men’s senior team is generally ranked anywhere between 60th in the world and 100th depending on the month and has often been criticized for poor direction from the top, a lack funding and a lack of support.

It is a similar decision Calgary native Owen Hargreaves was forced to make a eight years ago and he chose to play for England over Canada and Wales.

But there is also some hope with this young group coming up. The success and management over these five games in 12 days against Mexican club teams and the U-17 Mexican national team — combined with the CONCACAF tournament — could go along way to swaying that decision.

“Ireland has asked me but they haven’t really followed through a lot because it is hard for them to look at me over here, but when I go over to England next year it will be a tougher decision for me to make because they will be able to see me play all the time because they are only an hour away,” said Lavery. “Going over (to Ireland) it will still be a lot higher (level), but comparing (Canada) to where it used to be to what it is now, it has improved a lot. I think people are realizing that it is a good sport and are taking the time to watch it on TV and try new things.”

The national team tryouts are not the only thing that have been keeping Lavery busy.

He has been making use of those passports and over the past several months has been put through the paces by four club teams in England — Portsmouth, Ipswitch Town, Tottenham and Charlton.

Ipswitch Town thought high enough of him after his third tryout with the team to offer him a scholarship contract that includes a 90 pound a week (roughly $170) and will include room, board and his education. He has until July to sign, but is not in a huge hurry to do so, as there remains the possibility of a pro contract coming down the pike that would pay him 500 pounds a week (roughly $940).

Regardless, it is a situation that would allow him to develop and work his way up through the ranks from their U-18 academy team to their senior team which currently plays in the Championship League in England — one level below the Premier League.

“Every time I’ve gone I’ve played a few games and I’ve scored, so they seem to like me, they think I can go far and they are real keen to sign me because they have even brought both my parents over to see the facilities and everything,” said Lavery. “If you keep improving you’re going to have a chance (with the senior team) and the club I am going to, they have a history of giving young players a chance. You just got to work hard all the time.”

The big attraction to Lavery is his ability to take the ball up, shoot with both feet equally well and his on field vision.

“He’s got a keen eye for the goal,” said Steve Davies, who coaches him with the Red Deer U-18 Renegades. “He’s got plenty of passion and I think that’s what they’ve recognized in him — he’s like a little dynamo.”

Lavery says the culture of soccer in England goes beyond the religion of hockey in Canada.

“They finish school a lot earlier over there — they are done at 16 and then they go straight into a pro-mentality. They go to the club at 9 a.m., they have breakfast there, they train in the morning, have lunch, and then train again after lunch. They want to make as many players as possible over there . . . it’s your job.”

But until he signs he will continue to play for the Alberta provincial team — as he has for the past five years — and with the Renegades.

“We’re just happy to have him in the program, he brings a lot to it,” said Davies. “Even beyond his technical abilities he’s a good kid. He’s got a lot of tough choices to make and hopefully he sticks with it and makes the right ones.”

Contact Josh Aldrich at jaldrich@reddeeradvocate.com