Ross County interim manager Don Cowie to keep pushing ‘outstanding’ talent Victor Loturi as midfielder makes provisional Canada squad for debut Copa America campaign
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Victor Loturi could be in line to play in this summer’s Copa America after being included in Canada’s provisional squad for the tournament.
The 22-year-old midfielder represented his country at the Gold Cup last summer after establishing himself in his debut campaign with Ross County.
Now, he is on Mauro Biello’s longlist of players he could pick for the tournament, giving Loturi extra incentive to perform well and help keep the Staggies in the Premiership for next season.
Canada have never played in the Copa America before, with the competition historically being reserved for nations from South America.
However, in 2016 a qualifying tournament was held for the first time that gave countries from North and Central America the chance to earn their place in the competition, and this year it returned for a second iteration.
Canada needed two bites of the apple to qualify, first losing on away goals to Jamaica before going on to defeat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in the play-in round.
That gives them, and Loturi if picked, the chance to go head-to-head with some of the best nations and players in the world this summer.
“It’s huge – I always joke with Vic, but he just loves football,” County interim boss Don Cowie said.
“No matter if we are having a juice break in training, he has always got a ball at his feet. He just lives for football, so for him to get international recognition must make him so proud for all the hard work he has done.
“We will try and keep pushing him as much as we can, to really fulfil the potential he has got.
“I have got so much belief in Victor. I know he didn’t start last weekend, but that comes back to what I’ve said previously – it's about the group.
“I think he has got outstanding potential. I’m always saying to him he needs to believe in himself a bit more, because I see so much quality in him.
“It’s no surprise he’s in consideration for Canada, now it’s about him showing real belief in himself. If he does that, he can do whatever he wants in football.”
Cowie has worked with Loturi from the moment the Canada international arrived in Dingwall, first as a coach and now as manager.
In that time, he has seen the 22-year-old come on leaps and bounds both on and off the pitch.
“It was a massive challenge for him, coming over from the other side of the world,” Cowie reasoned.
“I think the first year was good for him because William (Akio), his brother, was here, which helped him settle.
“In the same token, William no longer being here has meant he has had to come out of his shell more and develop more as a person. He has to engage with everyone else, because he has not got the comfort of his brother.
“It was maybe a negative for him with William no longer being here, but if anything for me it has turned into a positive because it has enabled him to really stand up and grow as a person.
“One thing I demand of him because he is so comfortable on the ball and likes to maintain possession, and I’m sure he would echo this if you asked him, is to take risks and playing forward a bit more.
“It’s about him adding that to his game to take him to that next level, and I have seen big improvements in that this season.”
