CanMNT Form Guide: How the squad is performing ahead of Romania, Wales friendlies

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As the Canadian men’s national team reunites in Bucharest, Romania, it has been a busy few weeks for many of its players. 

There have been transfers, signings, debuts and plenty more headline-grabbing moments among the 24 players that Jesse Marsch has called into this camp. 

Canada take on Romania in Bucharest on Friday, September 5 (2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT), before a match against Wales in Swansea on Tuesday, September 9 (2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT). Both matches will be live on OneSoccer. 

Here is how the players in Canada’s squad are performing for their respective clubs heading into these two friendlies: 

Goalkeepers

Max Crépeau, Portland Timbers

Crépeau comes into camp with Canada in the midst of a goalkeeping battle for his club as well, having ceded the net the past two matches to James Pantemis. The fellow Canadian Pantemis has done well, allowing just one goal in those two matches and making six saves. Still, Crépeau will get an opportunity to start one of the two friendlies for Canada. 

Jayden Hibbert, Atlanta United 

While he isn’t really expected to get minutes this camp, Hibbert does come into camp in great form, with back-to-back clean sheets. In just his third pro match this past weekend against Nashville SC, he made seven saves and earned himself a spot in the MLS Team of the Week. 

Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United 

St. Clair and Minnesota clinched a playoff spot this weekend after a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers. Unfortunately, that match didn’t allow him a rare opportunity to go up against Crépeau in a head-to-head MLS match. The 28-year-old has been among the best in MLS this season, however, as Minnesota have lost just two of the past 13 matches he has started.  

Defenders 

Zorhan Bassong, Sporting Kansas City 

Bassong has started the past five matches for Sporting Kansas City, all in central midfield. This past weekend, he shifted into a deeper-lying role in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rapids. For Canada, however, he has largely played left back. 

Derek Cornelius, Marseille 

The central defender joined Canada’s camp fresh off signing a new loan deal with Scottish giants Rangers. He did make two appearances for Marseille off the bench before joining the SPL side, including this past weekend against Lyon, so he will still come into camp in decent form. 

Luc de Fougerolles, F.C.V Dender 

De Fougerolles has started all five games for Dender since he moved to the Belgian club on loan. That included an assist this weekend in a 3-1 loss to Royal Charleroi SC. While the club is battling relegation, it has been solid professional experience for the young central defender. 

Jamie Knight-Lebel, Swindon Town 

After failing to make the matchday squad for Bristol City in their first three matches of the season in the Championship, Knight-Lebel joined Swindon Town on loan. It is the second consecutive season on loan in League Two for the 21-year-old, where he will look to continue to progress.

Richie Laryea, Toronto FC

Laryea has now gone the full 90 for Toronto FC in eight consecutive matches, and has recently been back to his more natural full-back position, playing as a left-back the past two matches. He spent the summer playing a number of different spots for a TFC team in transition, including central midfield and central defender. 

Jahkeele Marsall-Rutty, Charlotte FC 

Since moving to Charlotte on loan, Marshall-Rutty has found his form, and has started six of Charlotte’s last eight games during a stunning eight-match winning streak. That included 90 minutes against the New England Revolution at right back this past weekend in a 2-1 win. The 21-year-old’s versatility, playing both left and right back in recent weeks, is a big reason he is back in camp. 

Joel Waterman, Chicago Fire 

Because of work Visa processing, Waterman has yet to make his debut for the Chicago Fire after being traded there on August 20. His most recent appearance came on August 5, when he was sent off in the 23rd minute in the Leagues Cup match against Pachuca. 

Midfielders 

Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps 

After missing two months with an ankle injury suffered in the Gold Cup against Curaçao, Ahmed finally returned to the lineup for Vancouver over the past few weeks. He made a pair of substitute appearances before joining Canada for this camp. As a result, he is perhaps unlikely to start either match, but could be a solid option off the bench. 

Tajon Buchanan, Villarreal 

Buchanan comes into camp full of confidence after scoring a hat-trick against Girona – becoming the first Canadian to do so in LaLiga history. He has started the Yellow Submarines’ past two matches and comes in as one of Canada’s most in-form players. 

Mathieu Choinière, LAFC 

Choinière made his first start for LAFC this past weekend, going the full 90 in 2-1 loss to San Diego FC. He has one goal in four appearances since making the move to MLS, and has been getting significantly more minutes than he was for Swiss side Grasshopper. 

Stephen Eustáquio, Porto 

After having his name thrown into transfer speculation, it appears that Eustáquio will remain with Porto this season. He has, however, played a combined 89 minutes across their first three games, none of which were starts. He was an unused substitute in a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon this past weekend.  

Ismaël Koné, Sassuolo 

Koné has made a pair of appearances for Sassuolo since joining the Serie A club on loan. However, in his league debut, he was sent off in a 2-0 loss to defending champions Napoli, and as a result did not play in this weekend’s loss to Cremonese. 

Junior Hoilett, Hibernian 

After missing out on the Gold Cup squad, Hoilett is back in the mix for Canada – bringing an important veteran presence to the group. At 35, he remains at a high level, and has already appeared in 10 matches for Hibernian in all competitions this year. He recently put up an assist in a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock. 

Nathan Saliba, Anderlecht 

After scoring on his league debut, Saliba has had a bit of a tough run of late with Anderlecht. He was substituted at half-time during his first start, and sent off in his second this past weekend against Union St-Gilloise. Still, this international window could be a big chance for him to continue to make inroads on a potential starting spot with the national team, and further secure his spot on the 2026 roster. 

Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC

Shaffelburg is arguably in his best form of the season at club level, coming into camp having started the past three matches with a goal and two assists in that span. He will be hoping to carry that momentum into Canada camp, and continue to fight for a starting spot. He will, however, miss the first game of the window due to suspension. 

Niko Sigur, Hajduk Split 

Another player who perhaps surprisingly did not move this window despite significant speculation, Sigur played 23 minutes off the bench for Split in a 2-2 draw with HNK Rijeka this past weekend. He has made two further starts this campaign so far, with Hajduk Split currently sitting in second. 

Forwards  

Theo Bair, Lausanne-Sport 

A late replacement for Cyle Larin, who is absent due to the birth of a child, Bair makes his return to the national team. He recently secured a loan move from Auxerre in France to Swiss club Lausanne-Sport. While he has played for Auxerre to start the season, it was limited to just eight minutes in a pair of substitute appearances. 

Promise David, Union Saint-Gilloise 

Despite dealing with a few minor injuries to start the Belgian league season, Promise David has been doing what he does best, banging in goals. He now has two in four matches, despite just one start so far this season, scoring this past weekend in a 2-0 victory over Anderlecht. 

Jonathan David, Juventus

David marked his long-awaited Juventus debut with the match-winner in a 2-0 victory over Parma on August 24. He also started their second match of the campaign, a 1-0 victory over Genoa. 

Jayden Nelson, Vancouver Whitecaps

Nelson has been finding consistent starting minutes for the Whitecaps lately in their Supporters’ Shield push. He has played 28 matches in all competitions this year for the Vancouver club and as a result certainly comes into camp as one of the most battle-tested players.

Tani Oluwaseyi, Villarreal 

With his move to LaLiga completed this past week, Oluwaseyi has already made his debut, coming off the bench in the 77th minute in a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo. A player who could soon feature in the UEFA Champions League, his stock is only likely to rise within the Canada striker conversation.