With the international break coming to a close, this weekend will see many of Canada’s national team members back in action with their respective clubs.
Both in European leagues as well as MLS, Canadians were in great form before the break.
And with the slate of matches scheduled in the upcoming days, many of these players will have the chance to continue their hot streaks.
Few have been as consistent as Simeon Jackson at Norwich. Jackson has scored three times in three appearances for the Canaries.
The club’s manager, Chris Hughton, is well-aware of this and is delighted to have the striker back healthy for Norwich’s EPL fixture against West Ham this Saturday.
“We’ve had Simeon Jackson who has had a long way to travel with two games in Canada,” said Hughton, ahead of the match. “But he is back now, and in good shape.”
Also returning to European action this weekend is midfielder Atiba Hutchinson with PSV Eindhoven.
The 29-year-old has been nothing short of stellar with the Dutch club having scored two goals in four Eredivisie matches this season.
This weekend he’ll be looking to add to his tally as PSV Eindhoven play away to FC Utrecht.
But while the European-based players from Canada’s roster have only recently started their seasons, those who play in MLS are returning to their clubs with thoughts of reaching the league’s playoffs.
Midfielder Patrice Bernier will return to the Montreal Impact with his team sitting only three points out of post-season contention.
Bernier scored three goals and three assists for the Impact in August earning him the Player of the Month award.
Only five matches remain for Montreal this season. So replicating his form from last month will do wonders for the squad’s playoff chances as they take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
There’s also midfielder Will Johnson returning to Real Salt Lake, a team that is close to clinching a playoff berth for a fifth consecutive season.
As MLS does not postpone their season for international breaks, Johnson’s absence was felt in the team’s 1-0 loss against the Houston Dynamo last Thursday.
In the match before that, the 25-year-old was with the team and was the lone scorer in Real Salt Lake’s 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Speaking of D.C. United, one Canadian player who will not be featuring for his club anytime soon is attacking midfielder Dwayne De Rosario.
De Rosario suffered a grade III MCL sprain in his knee and is expected to be out for between 10 to 12 weeks. The potentially season-ending injury is a blow for a team only one point out of the MLS playoff picture.
But D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen remains adamant that despite losing his second top goal scorer, the team can still reach the MLS playoffs.
“There’s no one guy or two guys that are going to replace Dwayne,” Olsen told the media after Thursday’s training. “We aren’t going to go get them in the league — not too many teams are looking to give up 100 goal scorers for a fourth round draft pick.
“This is who we are and everybody has to give a little bit more. This is doable.”