No one would dispute the status of the English Premier League as one of the most cosmopolitan in the world – indeed the matter has caused all manner of hand wringing from many, concerned that the steady influx of playing talent from other countries is stifling the chances of young English players.

Nonetheless the varied nationalities of the players is a major reason for the global appeal of the Premier League – from the games to the spin-off activities such as computer games and those at online casino sites. One of the countries which is not quite so heavily represented in the Premiership’s league of nations is Canada, but the league has uncovered at least one rising Canadian star in the last year.

David ‘Junior’ Hoilett, a winger who currently plays for Blackburn Rovers made a real name for himself last season, despite the dismal campaign Blackburn experienced as a club. Indeed Hoilett’s performances and goals represented probably the only bright spot of an otherwise unrelentingly miserable season for fans of the Ewood Park club; and it is testament to the impression he made that, following their relegation from the league, he was the first player tipped to move to another Premier League club during the summer. So far this has not happened, but few observers expect Hoilett to be playing football for Blackburn in the Championship next season.

Hoilett was born in Ontario and is actually a product of the Blackburn youth system, having been a member of their academy since 2003 – when he was just 13. He spent his formative years being loaned by the club to a variety of teams in the German leagues, in order to gain experience of first team football, before making his debut for Rovers in 2009. In the subsequent three years he has played 81 times for the club, scoring 12 goals, but it was really last season that he caught the eye, with a number of outstanding performances. With the likes of Manchester United now interested in him, he appears set to be one of Canada’s Premier League stars for some time to come.