With how quickly Alphonso Davies has grown, evolved and matured since his MLS debut in 2016, it's easy to forget that he's still just 17-years-old.
Davies has quickly become one of the Vancouver Whitecaps' best players this season with six goals and 10 assists in 21 starts, earning an MLS-record transfer to Bayern Munich. Internationally, he's already the face of the Canadian men's national team.
As Canada prepares for their first Concacaf Nations League game against US Virgin Islands on Sunday (4 pm ET), head coach John Herdman is astounded by Davies' refreshing attitude and "abnormal" professionalism.
"He brings a smile, it's one of the first things you see. He's just a player that loves playing," Herdman said Friday on a media call. "He just always seems to always have the right answer. Even though at times you see that youthfulness, he's just engaged at a deep level that's way ahead of his time. It's really abnormal — to really be able to keep hold of that deep passion for the game when now, in a professional environment, there's a lot of expectation and consequence."
Davies leads a Canada side heavily favored against the US Virgin Islands, who haven't played a competitive match in two years. In their last two games in 2016, they lost to Guyana and Curacao both by a scoreline of 7-0. Being that the qualification and seeding for the Nations League hinge not only on wins but on goals scored, Herdman feels the pressure to produce a flattering scoreline.
"It has a different challenge, there's an expectation here to really rack up a scoreline," Herdman said. "When that goal focus is in place, it can breed a level of frustration. When you go into a Mexico game you can get the blood boiling, or when you're playing against the bigger four. But when you're the Goliath and they're the David, you have to really get your mind right."
If Canada starts slow and begins to be frustrated on Sunday, Herdman can count on Davies to keep moving forward.
"A lot of good players I've worked with, they tend to just get paralyzed by bad performances," Herdman said. "He just looks forward. I think that's a great trait to have. When he's on the pitch, the pace is unbelievable. The pace he can play at ... some of the football has been sensational. I think all of the players have realized that it's just stepped up another level since he came in."
Herdman didn't confirm what position Davies will be starting from, be it on the wing or at fullback, but expectations will be heavy on the 17-year-old, as always.
"We may even start Alphonso at fullback, he might play as a wide forward, but we've certainly been building his understanding of how he can bring his strengths to our tactical identity," Herdman said.
