Luke Wileman: Welcome to this week’s edition of FanDuel Race for the Roster. Steven Caldwell, for some time now, has been attempting each week to predict Canada’s squad for this summer’s tournament, and there’s not long now before we find out if he’s actually right.
Canada will announce its roster live on TSN on May 29 so we’ll find out just how accurate Stevie’s predictions have been. The Canada roster reveal show will be available on TSN, CTV, and Crave.
Here are this week’s headlines:
Reports out of Germany suggest Bayern Munich want their club doctors to control the recovery of Alphonso Davies as long as possible. He’s been out almost two weeks now since picking up that hamstring injury in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal on May 6. According to tournament regulations, Davies must be released by Bayern to join Canada by May 25.
Great news for Alistair Johnston as he continues his comeback from that long injury layoff. He won his fourth Scottish Premiership title in a row with Celtic after a dramatic late win over Hearts on the final day of the season.
Luc De Fougerolles suffered a concussion in the Belgian League relegation playoffs. He was subbed off just after the hour mark on Sunday, and not good injury news for Kamal Miller either. He lasted 66 minutes against Inter Miami, his former team, before coming off with a hamstring problem in Portland’s game there.
Nathan Saliba scored his third goal for Anderlecht. He’s up to 32 appearances in his first season in Europe and being linked with some big moves now.
Derek Cornelius is heading to Charlotte this week for Canada’s pre-World Cup camp. He was given permission to leave his loan spell at Rangers before their season wrapped up last weekend after falling out with manager Danny Rohl.
Taking a look at the goalkeeper battle, Dayne St. Clair earned his second clean sheet of the MLS season in a 2-0 win over the Timbers. Maxime Crepeau allowed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United.
So, here we go, an updated look at Stevie’s 26 for 26 representing Canada this summer, and you see the starting XI he thinks will be there for the opening game of the tournament. Taking a look down the left wing, Jacob Shaffelburg amongst the substitutes in Stevie’s prediction for the opener. He wasn’t in the LAFC squad Sunday against his former club, Nashville. So, injury concerns there.
Meantime, fresh off a title in Scotland, Stevie is locking Alistair Johnston back in, he played the full 90 minutes in the win over Hearts.
Caldwell: I said that once he played 90 minutes, he was going to get locked back in. It was delightful to see him out there again and healthy, and actually up to full capacity, not quite much sharpness, but certainly fit enough to be involved for 90+ minutes.
Wileman: Okay, so a big moment for Alistair Johnston, but with what he’s done in terms of building up that recovery, do you think he’s good to go now?
Caldwell: I think he is good to go. He looks very confident on the hamstring. He’s certainly not holding back in any capacity, but I think he needs more games. The more games he gets before June 12 will be very beneficial for him. He’s got the Cup final coming up next weekend, and then hopefully he can play in both Canada’s friendlies, I think that will stand them in good stead to be full match sharpness. He’s playing well, but I don’t see 100 percent Alistair Johnson yet.
Wileman: So, Alistair Johnston is locked in for the opening game. Alphonso Davies right now not locked in, but Stevie still has him in the starting XI for that opener. The only person that thinks Davies will be fit in time. Is there any surprise right now that Bayern Munich is saying we want to keep him here under our control as long as possible?
Caldwell: No surprise at all for me. I mean, he is a Bayern Munich asset, isn’t he? He’s 100 million Euro asset, so why would they allow him to go early? Obviously, there’s been some controversy there between Bayern Munich and the Canadian soccer medical staff, so I understand that, I understand they want to keep them as long as possible.
Also, Bayern Munich themselves have slightly mismanaged this hamstring throughout the season, so they’ll be wanting to make sure that they’re cautious with this one, that they get it absolutely right, but when that official window opens and it has to be released, he will be released. There’s nothing Bayern can do about that. So, this is a storm in a teacup. This really is a non-story. It’s normal for a big club to want to keep their asset as long as possible.
Race for the Roster:
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca)
BENCH: David “Junior” Hoilett (Swindon Town), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Promise David (Union SG) INJ, and Marcelo Flores (Tigres)
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), Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), 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 (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
