Fraser Aird scored his seventh goal of the season for Rangers on Saturday, a 3-0 win over Stranraer in the penultimate game of their undefeated cakewalk through Scotland’s League One.
There hasn’t been much written in this space on his previous goals for one simple reason – all indications were that Aird was going to be another Canadian-born player who’d commit his international career to another country (in his case, Scotland).
But after rumors began surfacing last week, a report in Scotland’s Daily Record on Tuesday confirmed the 19-year-old has his eyes on Canada’s senior national team, with his debut set to come in next month’s friendlies against Bulgaria and Moldova.
Given his breakthrough season with the Old Firm club and apparent commitment to the land of his birth, this surely won’t be the last time you’ll see Aird’s name in Canadian Exports.
David Monsalve got off to a good start over in Finland, posting a 1-0 clean sheet over Jazz Juniorit in AC Oulu’s first game of the league campaign on Sunday. Meanwhile, Roger Thompson made his first appearance of the season for IFK Mariehamn, coming on as a sub in a 3-1 loss to Jaro.
Elsewhere in Scandinavia, as their leagues get back into the swing of things, Kenny Stamatopoulos was in goal for AIK Stockholm’s 2-2 draw with Hacken on Sunday, while Charlie Trafford went the full 90 for Turun Pallosuera in a 1-0 win over HJK on Saturday.
In 2.Bundesliga, Andre Hainault went the distance for VfR Aalen in a 3-0 win Sunday over FC St. Pauli. And Nik Ledgerwood (MSV Duisburg), Caleb Clarke (FC Augsburg II) and Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Stuttgarter Kickers) all started for their clubs this week.
In Japan, Dejan Jakovic (Shimizu S-Pulse) also went the distance and picked up a yellow card for his troubles during Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the delightfully named Kashima Antlers.
Atiba Hutchinson went his reliable 90 minutes for Besiktas in a 3-0 loss to Sivasspor in Süper Lig.
Iain Hume – on loan from Preston North End – put in a full day’s work for Fleetwood Town FC, who are poised to compete in the League Two playoff for a shot at promotion.
Lucas Cavallini also got the start in his side’s important 2-0 win over Liverpool on the weekend. (Of course, that would be Fénix defeating Liverpool in the Uruguayan first division.)
Elsewhere, jumping off the subs’ bench this week were Daniel Haber (Apollon Limassol), Simeon Jackson (Millwall) and Olivier Occean (Kaiserslautern).
