#CanadaRed soccer weekly: Cyle Larin faces high expectations after Rookie of the Year opening to MLS career

CARSON, Calif. - Cyle Larin isn’t the precocious newcomer to MLS anymore.

After a remarkable 2015 that saw him go first overall in the MLS SuperDraft before backing up the early hype on the field with a league-record 17 goals for expansion Orlando City SC, Larin now faces a second campaign where he’s now a known entity in the league and is expected to score.

“I just go into the season and make sure I’m working hard and go onto the field and do what I have to do to show the coaches and I think I’ll do well,” Larin said after Canada wrapped up training at StubHub Center on Thursday ahead of Friday's friendly with the United States.

“I’ve been working out the whole offseason and making sure that my body is ready for this season. That was the most important thing for me—to make sure I’m physically ready and everything else will come.”

One thing Larin had to quickly adapt to after moving to sunny Orlando was the heat. He lost weight over the course of his first year in the professional ranks.

That didn’t stop him from finding the net on a regular basis, including two hat tricks, after an injury situation gave him regular playing time that he made the most of.

“I’m a lot lighter than before and a lot thinner but I’m a lot stronger than before,” Larin said. “I think the offseason has really helped me out and I have a lot more to do before the season comes.”

Vitoria cements ties back to Canada

For those who watched the 2007 FIFA under-20 World Cup in Canada, the thought of Steven Vitória suiting up for Canada never crossed their minds when they saw him not playing in his home country but for Portugal.

Vitória had left to trial and then sign with Porto in 2006 and looked like he was on track to line up for the Portuguese. Given the choice of playing a World Cup qualifier in the far reaches of CONCACAF or playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, it would have been hard to fault a player who got his break in the professional world thanks to a move to Portugal.

But his career never reached the heights expected and Canada was back in play when Vitória came back to North America last season, loaned to the Philadelphia Union from his contracted club Benfica.

“Throughout the years, I’ve always been in touch with the Canadian national team,” the 29-year-old Vitória told Yahoo Canada Sports at StubHub Center on Thursday, as the Canadian session wrapped up. “One thing I always made sure was that I never disrespected any call-up. It just happened that it’s now. Obviously coming back to North America last season made it a lot easier.”

Vitória’s made his one-time switch allowed by FIFA to attach his international career to Canada, so there’s no chance he’ll turn tail to Portugal.

He’ll look to make his debut Friday against the United States and is also looking to catch some eyes as it’s unlikely he’ll see much action back in Benfica and may be looking for a new club.

But what matters for Canada is that there’s another body in the centre of the defence and at 6-foot-5 a tall one at that, Vitória adding to the height at the back. What’s more, he looks like he’s enjoying his maiden experience in a Canadian camp.

“It’s been exciting. It’s been fun. I’m very happy and I’m very honoured to be here,” he said. “I’m just trying to take it in as best I can. It’s been a positive camp and we just want to close it out the right way.”

De Guzman encouraged by news of new Canadian league

For the last while, the talk of a new professional Canadian soccer league hasn’t been much louder than a whisper, but a report by veteran Hamilton Spectator reporter Steve Milton on Wednesday will raise the volume of that conversation.

Milton featured a conversation with a Hamilton city councillor outlining how the new league would be based in Hamilton with six to eight teams and “deep-pocketed ownership,” and could be officially announced in the coming months with a start date as early as next year.

There are still plenty of details left to fill in but, on the eve of their friendly against the U.S., the news is well received by at least one long-time Canadian stalwart.

“It changes the whole dynamic of soccer in Canada. And you couldn’t ask for a better timing for it, as well,” said Canadian captain Julian de Guzman, who is currently playing for his second Canadian-based team in Ottawa with the Fury after playing for Toronto FC. “We’re pushing for the final six for the World Cup qualifiers, we’re showing a lot of improvement as well.”

Major League Soccer was created thanks to the United States hosting the World Cup in 1994 and with Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani stating that Canada hopes to host the 2026 event, a new league would certainly bolster the case to FIFA that Canada is an environment where the game is growing.

How Canadian MLS and NASL teams would be affected is something to worry about at a later date, but if there’s a group of wealthy owners willing to dump a lot of money into a burgeoning league that will take time to make any money, it’s only something that can help the Canadian game.

The lack of a league is perhaps the biggest factor holding back the Canadian program as other teams in the region have passed them by. It would be a game changer if it’s pulled off.

“It’s a complete package to have if you want to make a World Cup. I think it’s about time and it’s great and a dream come true for many of us, said de Guzman. “So hopefully we can put that in place with the success of the national team and then finally get chances for a lot of quality players who have never had the chance to make it at that level.”