Wednesday's OneSoccer Player & Pundit Hangout session featured Blackburn Rovers and Canadian national team goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler. In talking to OneSoccer hosts Asa Rehman, Oliver Platt, and Adam Jenkins, Leutwiler discussed his time playing for Canada in international soccer. Leutwiler, 31, was born in Switzerland and featured for the Swish at youth level before deciding to play for Canada’s senior side four years ago. He was able to commit his international future to the Reds because he held Canadian citizenship through his mother. Leutwiler took part in his first national team training camp in 2016 and made his debut for Canada that same year as a second-half substitute in a friendly vs. South Korea. The Swiss-born shot stopper made a second appearance for Canada in 20017, before earning his final cap (so far) and making his first start in a 2-0 win over Jamaica later in the year. He was also part of Canada’s 23-man squad at last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, but he didn’t see any action. "The reason why I (chose) Canada is because it was the right time for me to go and play for my second country… It was the right step for my career to go into internationals, and to have the chance to represent Canada was huge," Leutwiler explained. Boasting a strong mix of veteran players and a crop of exciting youngsters (most notably Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David), the Canadian men’s side has a bright future ahead of itself, according to Leutwiler. "It’s brilliant. The national team probably has (a level of) talent that it’s never had before," Leutwiler offered. "The team we have at the moment is fantastic, and the talent in the national team is enormous, so hopefully we’ll be successful with it." Other topics discussed on OneSoccer's Player & Pundit Hangout with Leutwiler included how he’s dealing with this period of self-isolation, when he might get back to action with Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship, coming through the ranks of FC Basel’s esteemed youth academy, his approach to facing penalty shots, his thoughts on the CPL, and much more. "Would I consider (playing in the CPL)? Yeah, I would definitely consider to play in Canada one day," Leutwiler said. To watch Wednesday's OneSoccer Player & Pundit Hangout with Jayson Leutwiler in full, click here. Subscribe to OneSoccer’s YouTube channel for more.

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