Miller pleased with how close-knit the Eddies have become in Scotland

With international call-ups, FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller has had to deal with a revolving cast of character as the team continues its preseason preparations in Scotland.

Midfielder Dustin Corea has already left to join El Salvador’s national team ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers. Midfielder Nik Ledgerwood will leave Scotland Saturday for Vancouver, where he’ll join up with the Canadian national side. And defender Marko Aleksic and Shamit Shome — who both received glowing reviews from Miller for their play so far in Scotland — will soon leave to join the Canadian U-20 as it preps for a friendly against England.

“For me, I think Marko has been overlooked (by national team coaches) in the past,” said Miller. “I don’t know why, it’s really none of my business. But he’s done very well so far and he’s really pushing the other players and is looking like a player who wants to be in the squad.”

But Miller has been pleased by what he’s seen from most of the Eddies through their first preseason wins, 2-0 over Partick Thistle’s youth side and a 2-1 win over an Airdrie FC side that used many regulars from Scottish Division One play. He’s liked the guile from Brazilian midfielder, Gustavo. Striker Daryl Fordyce’s finishing has been good. Miller said that Ledgerwood, who will likely become the new poster boy for the club, has been a real positive addition.

“I don’t want to get carried away in the preseason, but I have to say I have seen some very positive signs from the youngest to the oldest players in the group. So far, it looks to be a very tight group; it isn’t always easy for a team to come together — and we’ve made I think eight changes.” The team has two games to go: A match against Newcastle United’s U-21 side and a friendly against Queen’s Park FC. So far, Miller considers the decision to take the team to Scotland a success; the players are gelling with each other, the team is playing a style of football that Miller says is pleasing to the eye.

And, on Wednesday, Miller brought former Scotland manager Craig Brown to meet with the Eddies. The deal was that Brown was supposed to chat with the team for a half-hour, 45 minutes, max. He ended up chatting with the FCE players for an hour and a half.

Brown was director of football at English side Derby County when Miller managed there. He hosted Miller for a little more than five months. Miller says he often picks the brain of his mentor.”

“When I was there (Derby County), it was like living with a headmaster every day,” Miller said. “I’ve called on him in the past when I’ve come across certain situations at the national-team level or at the club level.”

One Eddie had to stay behind; midfielder Ritchie Jones is back in Edmonton rehabbing an injured knee. Miller said the player is progressing — but Jones, ironically, has a bit of a window in which to heal. Remember that he was sent off in the final game of the 2015 season, so he’s suspended for the NASL season opener against Rayo OKC.