Tactical breakdown: Explaining Marshall-Rutty's positional switch for TFC

Replacing the outgoing Richie Laryea was always going to be a difficult task for Toronto FC. Laryea quickly became a key player for the club in 2019 and, eventually, for the Canadian men’s national team as well.

With this in mind, there has been an intriguing development during TFC's pre-season. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Toronto’s prized 17-year-old winger, has been deployed at right fullback in the team’s friendlies.

It’s not the first time a young Canadian winger has experimented in a deeper role. Alphonso Davies dominated MLS as a winger before settling in as a left fullback at Bayern Munich. Tajon Buchanan was occasionally moved to right fullback with the New England Revolution and now finds himself in an inverted left wingback role at Club Brugge.