It was one step forward and one step back for Canada’s beleaguered backline this weekend as Steven Caldwell returns with another edition of Race for the Roster.
While Alistair Johnston returned from a lengthy injury absence, Richie Laryea is now sidelined and expected to miss time. As the FIFA World Cup gets closer and closer, questions around who Jesse Marsch will pick for his defensive corps are swirling with injuries still looming large. With so much uncertainty, Caldwell isn’t ready to make any changes just yet.
Before a dive into the Form Tracker, a little more on Johnston and Laryea.
Johnston made his first appearance since October in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Falkirk on Saturday. The 27-year-old Vancouver native came on in the 71st for Anthony Ralston. It was only his fifth appearance of the season due to a hamstring injury incurred in August before an aggravation in October and then another in late March. With a number of important matches still to be played for Celtic as they chase a fifth straight title and 14th in 15 seasons, Johnston will ideally get considerably more game time before June.
As for Laryea, the Toronto FC left-back is out of action with a thigh injury. Obviously the injury comes at an inopportune time when it comes to World Cup preparations, but Laryea had started his Major League Soccer season brightly, as well. Laryea played every minute of his first nine matches of the season, scoring twice and adding an assist.
In looking at the Form Tracker, the white crosses indicating injuries are still there in abundance, but thankfully the Laryea injury is the only new one. There remains great concern with Canada’s first-choice central defensive pairing even with Moïse Bombito approaching a return to training with Nice following a broken tibia in October. Bombito’s partner, Derek Cornelius, is not hurt right, but he is also not playing. After a falling out with manager Danny Rohl, Cornelius has been left out of the Rangers team in recent weeks and training with the reserves.
Here’s a look at this week’s team.
Race for the Roster: Week 40 (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) and Marcelo Flores (Tigres)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles), Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC) Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC) INJ, Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic)
BENCH: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) INJ, Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham)
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) and Owen Goodman (Barnsley, on loan from Crystal Palace)
