Every week on Race for the Roster, Steven Caldwell lays out his Canada roster and starting XI for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, but sometimes, the decisions are made for him.
As is unfortunately becoming customary of late, Jesse Marsch and Canada have fresh injuries to contend with and, to make matters worse, they’re once again in the back.
You can add Ralph Priso and Joel Waterman to the list of sidelined Canada defenders. Priso, 23, incurred a hamstring injury during his Canada debut in last Tuesday night’s 0-0 friendly with Tunisia at BMO Field. The Toronto native was forced off after only 26 minutes. A subsequent MRI back with his club side, Vancouver Whitecaps, revealed a strain and he’s listed as out indefinitely.
Waterman, 30, is in his seventh MLS season and second with the Chicago Fire. He was set to start on Saturday against Nashville SC, but felt discomfort in warmups and was a late scratch with Jack Elliott slotting in to replace him. The Fire were 1-0 winners. The team has yet to update Waterman’s status.
On top of the new injuries, Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston sustained a setback in his recovery from a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Canada last week. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is hopeful that he will have Johnston back before the end of the season with the Bhoys currently three points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with one match to play before the top-six split.
Because of the uncertainty at the back, Caldwell has unlocked all three players who had been locked in: left-back Richie Laryea, who scored in Toronto FC’s 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on the weekend, right-back Johnston and centre-back Moïse Bombito, who continues to recover from a leg break incurred in October. As it stands right now, none of Canada’s back line is locked in.
In more promising injury news, both Alphonso Davies and Jacob Shaffelburg returned from injury and made instant impacts. Davies, 25, was a late substitute on Saturday, returning from a March hamstring issue, and assisted on Lenart Karl’s stoppage-time winner as Bayern Munich beat Freiburg, 3-2. Shaffelburg made his Los Angeles FC debut in a rout of Orlando City, coming back to action after groin surgery in January. He got an assist on the game’s final goal, scored by Tyler Boyd.
Here’s a look at this week’s team:
Race for the Roster: Week 38 (4-4-2)
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca)
BENCH: Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Marcelo Flores (Tigres) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) INJ and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles), Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille) INJ, Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) INJ, Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) INJ and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham) INJ
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) and Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
