Moïse Bombito is closing in on a return to the field as recent scans of his surgically repaired leg show the 25-year-old central defender is ready to resume running on Saturday.
Bombito’s running protocol will be ramped up day to day over the coming weeks, and if progresses continues, Bombito will return to training with Nice’s first team later in March.
There’s no decision yet on if Bombito will be available for Canada’s international camp at the end of March, including two international friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia in Toronto.
Bombito broke his leg in October after it had been diagnosed as a stress fracture. That and a broken wrist have kept him out of the Canadian lineup since the Concacaf Nations League Finals in Los Angeles in March 2025.
Nice has struggled without Bombito, currently sitting 14th in France’s Ligue 1 and giving up the second most goals in the league (43).
Any time the Montreal native gets with Canada before it begins its home World Cup in June will be crucial. Bombito became a foundational defensive piece and locker-room leader during the 2024 Copa América.
His pre-World Cup time with Canada will not only be key to his playing fitness and form, but will also give head coach Jesse Marsch the chance to evaluate the best central defensive partner for Bombito – a competition right now between Derek Cornelius (also recovering from a hamstring injury), Alfie Jones (recovering from a foot injury), Luc de Fougerolles, Kamal Miller, and Joel Waterman.
In other injury news, forward Promise David had successful surgery to repair a torn tendon between his thigh muscle and hip on Friday. The 24-year-old’s club, Union Saint-Gilloise, posted a smiling photo of David from his hospital bed wishing the Brampton, Ont., native a speedy recovery.
David’s recovery is expected to take three to five months, and no decision has been made yet about the striker’s World Cup prospects.
