As a member of the Canadian national side, he’s played on this country’s soil many times. But Saturday’s home opener against the Jacksonville Armada will mark the first time he’s been part of a professional club match played in his home and native land. His family is making the trip from Victoria to Edmonton to take in the game.

JC Banks pounced on an FC Edmonton giveaway in the middle of the park — and then made the visiting Eddies pay.

“We now owe them one,” said Miller after Wednesday’s training session at Clarke Field. “It still eats away at me that we set the NASL record of the quickest goal against in Jacksonville. We’ll try to rectify that result. We’ve done well over the last few times we’ve played down in Jacksonville. They’ve got one or two changes on their team, but we have to go down there with the mindset that we’ll get three points."

So, today, I asked the Oilers Entertainment Group point-blank about their involvement with the Canadian Premier League. And the statement: "We are not in discussions and it's not on our radar."

With Ledgerwood off to play for Canada, coach Colin Miller said that fullback Netan Sansara will get the captain’s armband for the Stoke City match. Dustin Corea, who scored and set up a goal against Newcastle, will be out with a groin strain. And goalkeeper Nathan Ingham is nursing a strain in his kicking leg.

But, starting this season, each team is required to start three Canadians for each tournament match.

“We will revisit things, as we always do, in the fall season,” said Miller after FCE’s Friday training session at Commonwealth Fieldhouse. “But, as of right now, we’re good. I am delighted with the squad.”

So, did Shiels feel the weight of expectation on his shoulders when he took the field with his new Eddies teammates for the first time Monday?

Immediately, Netan Sansara — the fullback signed by the Eddies earlier this year — came over to embrace Straith, the Canadian international. Both had played together last year at Norwegian side, Fredrikstad. Now, they’re teammates again.

So, to say that this has been a season of change for the Alberta-born Canadian national-team veteran would be understatement. He’s going through the rigours of preseason training with the Eddies, while going through the same sleep patterns that most new parents have to endure — that is, little or no sleep.