Vancouver Whitecaps star Alphonso Davies is one of 23 players who will feature for Canada in its first match of the upcoming Concacaf Nations League qualifiers.
Coach John Herdman announced his roster on Thursday and included Davies, a 17-year-old prospect who recently signed with German club Bayern Munich in a record MLS transfer deal that could reach as high as US$22 million.
Davies was the top scorer at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, scoring three goals for Canada. He also won the tournament’s best young player award. Davies has three goals in six appearance for the Reds since making his debut in an international friendly last summer in Montreal against Curacao.
Canada faces the U.S. Virgin Islands in the opening match of its 2018-19 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying campaign on Sept. 9 in Bradenton, Fla. The team will gather next week in Toronto for the beginning of a mini-training camp ahead of the game.
After the match vs. the US Virgin Islands, Canada will host Dominica on Oct. 16 at Toronto’s BMO Field. The Reds will also play away to St. Kitts and Nevis on Nov. 18, and then host French Guiana on March 26, 2019.
Herdman has called five teenagers into camp: Davies (17), defender Zachary Brault-Guillard (19), goalkeeper Alessandro Busti (18), forward Jonathan David (18) and midfielder Liam Millar (18).
Brault-Guillard, Busti, David and central defender Derek Cornelius (20) have yet to debut for Canada’s senior team.
One teenager who has not been called up is former Montreal Impact attacker Ballou Tabla, who now plays for Barcelona’s B team. Tabla, 19, has represented Canada at the under-17 level, but is also eligible to play for the Ivory Coast, his birth nation.
Herdman said has talked with Tabla, but insists he won’t beg anyone to play for Canada.
“If you don’t feel it in your heart to come and pull that shirt on, don’t bother,” Herdman told reporters during a conference call on Thursday. “I don’t want you here for commercial reasons. I don’t want you here for other reasons, because someone told you it was the right thing to do.
“I won’t beg you to be here. It’s got to be right for you … There’s enough players out there now and there’s enough young players coming through our system that I can be patient.”
Herdman has also called a number of veterans, including Toronto FC forward Tosaint Ricketts (58 caps) and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Marcel de Jong (55). Ricketts is Canada’s active scoring leader, with 16 goals.
CANADA’S SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crépeau (Ottawa Fury FC), Milan Borjan (FK Crvena Zvezda/Serbia), Alessandro Busti (Juventus Primavera/Italy).
Defenders: Zachary Brault-Guillard (Olympique Lyonnais/France), Manjrekar James (FC Fredericia/Denmark), Derek Cornelius (FK Javor Ivanjica/Serbia), Dejan Jaković (Los Angeles FC), Doneil Henry (Vancouver Whitecaps), Marcel de Jong (Vancouver Whitecaps).
Midfielders: Samuel Piette (Montreal Impact), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps), David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone FC/Soctland), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jay Chapman (Toronto FC), Liam Millar (Liverpool FC U-23/England), Scott Arfield (Glasgow Rangers), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC).
Forwards: Cyle Larin (Beşiktaş JK/Turkey), David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City FC/Premier League), Tosaint Ricketts (Toronto FC), Lucas Cavallini (Puebla FC/Mexico), Jonathan David (KAA Gent/Belgium), Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas).
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