Promise David’s recovery from surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his hip is ahead of schedule, setting him up for a pivotal MRI at the end of May that will determine his World Cup availability, multiple sources confirmed to TSN.
The Canadian and Union Saint-Gilloise striker suffered the injury in a Belgian League game at the end of February. David, 24, had surgery shortly after to repair the tendon that connects his hip to his leg, and the recovery period was initially thought to be three to six months.
The Brampton, Ont., native has trained with his club teammates in the past few weeks, participating in non-contact drills.
David’s upcoming MRI at the end of the month will take place around the same time Canada is expected to open its pre-World Cup camp in Charlotte, N.C.
World Cup squads are set to be finalized on June 1. Ultimately, David’s inclusion in Canada’s squad is up to head coach Jesse Marsch
If the results of David’s MRI are positive, then Marsch’s decision on David could hinge on how much time the striker can realistically play and be effective in a World Cup match after being sidelined for months.
And if David makes Canada’s roster, who misses out?
Before his injury, David’s stock as a reliable goal-scoring threat for club and country was rising quickly.
David was second in the Belgian league with nine goals and was beginning to showcase some of that offence for Canada too, scoring three goals in his first eight appearances with the national team.
David’s potential inclusion in Canada’s squad after such a speedy recovery would underscore Marsch’s belief in the striker’s rehabilitation as well as David’s ability to contribute to Canada’s scoring, which has struggled.
In the team’s past six friendlies (excluding January’s 1-0 win over Guatemala in Los Angeles in January because it wasn’t an official Fifa ‘A’ friendly) Canada has scored four goals, including a goal from David against Venezuela in November.
