Danilo Acosta, better known as Danny, had a bright future a couple of years ago when he broke through with Real Salt Lake. The defender, who was born in Honduras, represented the USA at the 2017 U20 World Cup during the team's run to the quarterfinals. That coincided with becoming a regular at RSL, playing in 17 games in 2017, and starting games by the end of the season.

Since the conclusion of the 2017 season, Acosta has hit a couple of speed bumps in his development. He's currently on loan with Orlando City, struggling to find a consistent role with the Purple Lions after a 2018 campaign that saw him fall out of favor with Mike Petke in Utah. 

Most curiously, Acosta was in the 23-man squad for Honduras at this summer's Concacaf Gold Cup but did not make an appearance after deciding not to sign the papers to make his one-time switch official.

Apparently Danny Acosta, who was on Honduras' Gold Cup roster, decided not to sign the last piece of paper to make his FIFA switch official https://t.co/6CB4FthngE

— Alicia Rodriguez (@soccermusings) June 23, 2019

That leaves the option open for Acosta to represent either country in the future, but the left back, who turns 22 later this year, needs to find some stability in his career. Since making his league debut for RSL back in 2017, Acosta has made just 20 appearances in the two seasons since then. A total of just over 1500 minutes in league play in two seasons has hampered his development, though Honduras still saw enough from him to call him up for the Gold Cup.

There were rumors that Acosta's off-the-field behavior is what first caught the ire of Petke, heading into the 2018 season. A healthy Acosta started just one game in the first couple of months of the season before seemingly emerging out of the dog house at the end of May, when he began a streak of nine starts in a row. 

But then Acosta made just one substitute appearance of the final 14 games of the season for RSL, paving the way to his loan deal this past winter. And any hope that Acosta might reignite his upward trajectory in his career in Florida has mostly failed to come to fruition, as James O'Connor has inconsistently used the 21-year-old.

Eight appearances this year likely means that Acosta is nowhere near Gregg Berhalter's radar right now for the U.S. men's national team, despite the dearth of options at left back. Berhalter used Tim Ream extensively at left back during the Gold Cup, despite Ream mostly being a center back throughout his career.  

Daniel Lovitz was the other option at left back during the USA's run to the final, but the Montreal Impact defender, already 27 years old, isn't a long-term hopeful in the national team set up. 

That said, Honduras could still use Acosta's services, heading into the fall's Concacaf Nations Leauge. Coming off a disappointing Gold Cup, where Los Catrachos finished in last place in their group, Honduras with play against Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique in the first edition of the Nations League. 

Although a long shot to win the tournament overall, Honduras should have their sights on winning their group this fall and making it to the semifinals, which take place next March. And Acosta, who has shown enough ability on the field in MLS, could play a pivotal part for Los Catrachos if he decides to play for the country of his birth.