The case for Stefan Vukovic

TFC head coach Aron Winter.

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Vukovic, a native of Ancaster, Ont., also had a very impressive season in the Canadian Soccer League in 2011, scoring 18 goals in 26 matches, which was enough to claim the golden boot as the league's top scorer. His 20 goals for TFC academy and reserve teams have many people looking at him as the most likely home-grown signing for the 2012 MLS season.

Last week, TFC confirmed that Vukovic was one of the nine academy players that had been invited to take part in the club's pre-season preparations. With 42 players on the books, there will certainly be some cuts but based on his CSL performance last year Vukovic would need to have a terrible camp to miss out on landing a home grown contract with the Reds' senior team.

For Danny Dichio's academy side, Vukovic played a similar role to that of Danny Koevermans. It is a position where TFC currently lacks depth with Ryan Johnson and Keith Makabuya being the only natural backups for the big Dutchman. Bringing Vukovic into the senior team would allow him to continue his development and learn from an experienced forward like Koevermans.

At this stage, his continued learning is what is most important for Vukovic. If he were to return to the academy and spend the majority of his time in the CSL it would likely stunt his development. As his 18 goals last season prove he has very little left to learn at that level, and unless he is forced to deal with better defenders and goalkeepers he will never become the finished product.

The 18-year-old forward is highly regarded for his ability in front of goal. The majority of his goals last season came from working off the shoulder of the last defender to make well-timed runs in to the box. He has that natural instinct to find space that any good striker has but what has set him apart at such a young age is that he is able to keep his head up and finish calmly. He also has a work rate and vision that would allow him to play in other positions on the field but his size and strength lend themselves best to the forward position.

Stan Adamson, media and administration head for the CSL, was watch Vukovic several times last season and commented that "he was an intelligent player, he read the game well, moving into open spaces at the right time as an attack was building up and would switch positions quickly, giving himself a goal-scoring opportunity and that probably accounts for his high goal tally. He's good with his head, which helps, too. He's quick enough to avoid serious physical contact, he appeared to be right footed, but used his left foot well."

Adamson even went so far to suggest "he's a good prospect for the future ... (and) so I think if he stays on course he is capable of going beyond Toronto FC."

Now, I do not expect to see Vukovic setting MLS on fire next season but he could certainly play a role. The increased training time with the first team would be good for him but he would also need to get game experience. The Canadian club championship would be a good chance for TFC to give him some first-team opportunities against the kind of opponents that he would face in MLS.

He would also benefit from Toronto FC's plans to expend their reserve team's action beyond just the MLS Reserve League. The issue with the reserve league is that it has very few games so if TFC does have their reserves playing in additional matches next season it would be good for all of the fringe players on the squad.

Toronto's trip down to Orlando later this month, assuming they bring Vukovic along, will be his first real chance to show what he can do against MLS opposition. He will certainly be a player to keep an eye on in that tournament, as of all the academy players invited in to camp, Vukovic is certainly the one that stands out as being the most ready to make the step to the next level.

David Rowaan is a Toronto-based writer and key contributor to Waking the Red, a blog about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. Follow Waking the Red on Twitter.