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.

Montreal Impact's Johan Venegas, right, challenges Philadelphia Union's Steven Vitoria during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, August 22, 2015. Nine years after pulling on a Portuguese jersey in Montreal at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, defender Vitoria could make his Canadian debut Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes More

“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.”

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