Promise David’s unfortunate injury has now put his FIFA World Cup in doubt and it has also resulted in some changes to how Canada’s roster could shape out. TSN’s Luke Wileman is joined by TSN Soccer analyst Steven Caldwell to discuss the impact David’s injury has on the overall projected roster.
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Luke Wileman: This week on Race for the Roster, Steven Caldwell makes one of his biggest calls so far, dropping a key player from his 26 for 26.
Welcome to FanDuel Race for the Roster, where Steven Caldwell has the weekly task of predicting Canada’s squad for the tournament this summer and their starting 11 for their opening game in Toronto.
Let’s start with Caldwell’s projected starting 11. He’s got eight locked into the starting lineup, so that leaves only three places in the 11 up for grabs. But injuries all over the pitch are opening the door for places on the roster and the starting 11.
This Week’s Headlines
Promise David underwent successful surgery on Friday. He is expected to miss the next 3-5 months after suffering a ruptured hip tendon last Friday, putting his World Cup status in doubt.
Better news for Alphonso Davies, who on Thursday returned to training with Bayern Munich, completing a 20-minute running session. Davies left Bayern’s previous game with a torn muscle fibre in his right hamstring. There’s no word yet, though, on if he’ll be back for Canada’s friendlies in late March.
As for Moise Bombito, a recent scan revealed that his leg has healed enough for him to resume running, and he will be ramping up training over the coming weeks. We’re still waiting to hear if he’ll be available for the March camp.
Derek Cornelius will likely miss the March window for Canada. The defender returned to training with Rangers for the first time since he underwent surgery in November. According to Rangers boss Danny Rohl, there is plenty of work to be done before he returns.
Wileman: So plenty of injury concerns for Jesse Marsch and terrible news for Promise David. It’s a huge long shot for him to make the World Cup now, and you’ve dropped him from your squad.
Steven Caldwell: Yeah, I’ve kept him on the bubble hoping that he can somehow miraculously recover. It’s going to take something superhuman to be back in time when you have an injury like that. It’s likely that he’s going to miss out on the World Cup. There’s no way that it can heal in time while getting your body up to speed. I’m sure he’s doing everything he possibly can to get there. It’s devastating. I’m gutted for the lad. I feel terrible. I think it’s going to affect Canada as well because he’s a player who can come up with a goal at the most important times. So this weakens the squad for sure.
Wileman: Now before Promise David’s injury, you had Cyle Larin, who made the move to Southampton in January, on the bubble as one of the last five players who were in danger of missing the squad.
You’ve moved him in, off the bubble, and Jacen Russell-Rowe is into the squad as well, basically as a replacement for Promise David?
Caldwell: Essentially. I’ve got the six strikers, you could call Flores a midfield/striker, a wide guy, so I’ve got him in there. Larin, I think it’s important that he’s played minutes and that we recognize that. He’s probably in form, he’s got two goals with Southampton, so he’s playing at least and getting up to speed.
Jacen Russell-Rowe comes in even though he’s coming off the bench with his new club, Toulouse. But I do feel that the extra striker is where Jesse Marsch will want the extra body knowing that this is a 26-man squad.
You look around and you see many options in the forward areas and the wide areas. Jacen Russell-Rowe will be hoping that he can get his first goal and start to get a few starts in France.
Wildman: That brings us to our form tracker. With Promise David out of Stevie’s squad, Marcelo Flores is Canada’s most in-form forward right now with starters Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi both struggling for goals at the moment.
There has been some positive news for Canada with some key performances over the weekend. Norwich up 1-0 over Leicester, and in the 78th minute, Ali Ahmed puts it away for good. It’s his third goal and fifth goal contribution since joining the club in January.
And in MLS, LAFC taking on Houston Dynamo, check out this strike from Stephen Euataquio in the 82nd minute, his first goal since he moved to the club from Porto on loan.
In Serie A, things continue to go well for Ismael Kone as well as Sassouolo were hosting Atalanta. They were down a man in the 23rd minute but they get the corner and Kone gets just enough of it for the goal. It’s his fifth goal of the season and he also earned Man of the Match Honours as Sassuolo went on to win 2-1.
Race for the Roster: Week 36
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
BENCH: Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca), Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth), and Marcelo Flores (Tigres), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) INJ, Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles FC) INJ, 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), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
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 (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
IN THE HUNT: James Pantemis (Portland Timbers) and Jonathan Sirois (FC Dallas)
