Chicago Fire's Brandon Vincent settles in after 'whirlwind' U.S. team debut

Chicago Fire newcomer Brandon Vincent has experienced, as he describes it, a "whirlwind of emotions and dreams coming true" over the past few weeks as he prepares to make his professional debut while simultaneously kicking off his international career.

Vincent, drafted fourth overall by Chicago out of Stanford, made his national team debut during the U.S. men's team's friendly against Canada, coming in at halftime and featuring at left full-back.

It's his first national team cap at any age range and, as such, he joins Seattle Sounders star Jordan Morris in the short list of players who have taken the pitch for Jurgen Klinsmann before making their professional club debuts.

"I had no idea it was coming," Vincent told ExtraTime Radio, of his call-up. "Seeing Jordan do it, obviously, was really cool but I never really thought it for myself. It's a big dream of mine."

Chicago head coach Veljko Paunovic welcomed Vincent to the Fire's training camp soon after the friendly was over. Paunovic says he's impressed with the young defender.

"We were very happy to see him play the other day," Paunovic told reporters. "Surprisingly, but at the same time he deserved it. I'm sure that he did great at the camp. That's how you earn the confidence of the coach. That's what all our youngsters have to understand and do it. We are expecting from him the same thing."

For Vincent, settling into camp is also a chance to breath again as he adjusts to life in his new home turf. That stability is a welcome opportunity, as Vincent says he barely managed to find out where he was headed anyway; he was away with the U.S. national team for training camp during the SuperDraft.

"I was able to turn on the draft while I was warming up doing some exercises in the gym," Vincent said. "It kept going, kept going, and I think right before I went out they announced the Chicago Fire had traded away Jack Harrison and picked me up. So I got to see it live and it was cool for me just to know that before going out to training."