Canada’s men’s national team is back in camp for a Concacaf Nations League window against Guatemala, and the biggest storyline heading into it is whether Jesse Marsch finally moves Alphonso Davies off left back and into the left wing role he has been thriving in for Bayern Munich.

Does Alphonso Davies Move Up the Pitch for Canada?

Davies has been deployed on the left wing for Bayern in recent weeks, due to injuries elsewhere in the squad, and he has made the most of it with goals and assists. It is a reminder of where his career actually started. Bayern built the left back position around him from scratch, essentially inventing it for a player who had never played there before, but his real love has always been attacking from the left.

The case for trying something different with Canada is straightforward. With Jacob Shaffelburg out of the squad and Marcelo Flores still working his way back from an ACL injury, there is a real lack of depth at left wing. Davies pushing forward would also let Canada address an attack that has stalled, with some fresh looks worth trying given how long it has been since this group played a competitive match together.

The counterargument is that Marsch tends to stick to his principles. He could keep Davies at left back and simply have him push forward more aggressively within the existing structure, trusting his midfield to cover and his back line to shift into a back three when he advances.

With two legs against Guatemala, away first and then back home, there is also a case for trying both approaches and seeing what sticks. Canada has cover at left back regardless of which way Marsch goes, with Richie Laryea and Richard Chukwu both able to slot in behind Davies, and Liam Millar, who has been in good form, as another attacking option on the opposite flank.

What Does Canada Need From the Guatemala Window?

Canada sits 27th in the FIFA rankings. Guatemala sits 97th. On paper this should not be close, though Canada did lose to Guatemala in the Gold Cup earlier this year, a reminder not to take anything for granted. The framing from inside the camp is simple: these are must-win games. Canada needs results away in Guatemala on Friday and then a strong showing back home on the Monday, in front of what should be a packed house.

Canada’s squad also has a couple of new faces in this window. With Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan Osorio both out, Charles-Andreas Brym, who has been in good form for NAC Breda in the second tier of Dutch football, has come into camp as a replacement call-up and gets a chance to reintroduce himself after a tough first camp with Marsch back in 2024.

There is also a goalkeeper situation worth watching. Marsch has shown real faith in Owen Goodman, on loan at Dundee from Crystal Palace, but Maxime Crépeau has had a strong season at Orlando City despite playing behind a team that concedes a lot, and has done little to lose the starting job. Expect Goodman to keep waiting his turn for now, with Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair rounding out the goalkeeping options for this window.

Why Isn’t Promise David Playing for Brighton?

Promise David‘s move to Brighton has not gone the way anyone hoped. He arrived on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise, where he was scoring freely, and has barely featured since. Part of the problem is structural: his wages on loan are a fraction of what Brighton’s regulars earn, which means the club effectively has a free look at him with little pressure to play him if he is not performing.

And he has not been performing, at least not yet. David has said himself that he is finding it difficult to adjust to the pace and tempo of the Premier League, something that takes most players time to work through. The bigger issue is that Brighton are in outstanding form. The club currently leads the Premier League in goals scored with 26, eleven more than first-place Arsenal, and has leapt into second in the table.

When your attack is scoring at that rate, there is little incentive for a manager to make changes, and a striker who is not scoring and not standing out in training is going to keep waiting for an opportunity that may not come.

For a player who fought back from a hip injury to make Canada’s World Cup roster and who Marsch has previously praised as one of the squad’s hardest workers, it is a tough spot. The hope is that a return to international duty, and a shot at goals against Guatemala, gives him something to build on heading back to his club.

Is Jonathan David Still a Starter at Atletico Madrid?

Jonathan David’s move to Atletico Madrid, where he is on loan from Juventus, started well. He came out of the gate quickly after a difficult stretch in Turin, but has cooled off since the last international break and has mostly been appearing from the bench. The obvious obstacle is Julian Alvarez, who has been in blistering form up top and is, for now, the club’s undisputed asset at striker.

No manager benches a forward who is scoring freely, and Atletico’s front line has been good enough this season that there has been little room for David to force his way back in, even though he has shown at previous clubs that he can do the job as a focal point striker. There has reportedly been talk of Juventus wanting to move him on permanently, which would only raise the stakes on him finding form soon.

Canada will be hoping international duty works the same way for David as it has for players before him: a reset, a chance to find rhythm again away from club pressure, and a spark to carry back into his next stretch of matches.