Canada youngster Kevin Khan playing with 'no fear' in first taste of senior international soccer

Kevin Khan didn't expect to be called into Canada's Nations League squad, but he's soaking up the experience. The 18-year-old Feyenoord defensive midfielder says he was "shocked" to hear that Jesse Marsch was bringing him in for a two-legged quarterfinal against Guatemala.

With several injuries in Canada's midfield, there's a chance he ends up playing an important role too. "I went downstairs and I told my dad right away, and I think he was more happy than me," Khan said inan interview with the CanMNT's social media accounts.

"That was just a wonderful feeling for us and for the family. It's a big honour to wear the badge and to play for the country that I was born in.

To get this opportunity to play for my country is a dream come true. I wanted to do it since I was a kid.

If I am able to get on the field against Guatemala, I'll be very proud and show you guys what I can do. I'm a very intelligent player, someone who likes to be on the ball, very smart on the ball, a lot of vision.

Courtesy: Canada Soccer Marsch called him a player with high potential" after calling him up, and now Khan could be thrown right into the deep end. It's the first step to a potential inclusion on Canada's World Cup squad in four years.

Ahead of a potential international debut on Friday night, Khan isn't forgetting the people who helped him get to this point. Khan hasn't even appeared in a first team game for Feyenoord yet - his promising career is only just starting.

"All my trainers and everybody who believes in me, everybody who was in my childhood and my journey throughout the youth since I've started playing football," he started. "Just everybody, and most importantly, my dad.

He's been there with my journey all the way from Toronto to the Netherlands, where I play now. It's a proud moment for me and my family just to be able to not only walk out there, but to walk out there with the men's team."