Canada call up injured Alphonso Davies for World Cup training camp
Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies has been included in co-hosts Canada’s final training camp ahead of the World Cup despite suffering a recent hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old sustained the issue during the second leg of his club’s Champions League semi-final against Paris St-Germain on 6 May.
Medical staff at the German giants initially predicted the dynamic defender would be sidelined for several weeks.
However, the national team captain is among 32 players invited to Charlotte, North Carolina, as preparations intensify.
Head coach Jesse Marsch will evaluate the preliminary group before naming his final 26-man tournament squad on Friday.
Injury-disrupted season
The former Vancouver Whitecaps academy graduate has endured a deeply frustrating campaign severely limited by fitness issues.
He was restricted to just 13 Bundesliga appearances for his club this term.
International duty has also proved challenging, with the left-sided specialist suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against the United States last March.
Further hamstring problems subsequently ruled him out of recent friendly encounters with Iceland and Tunisia.
Canada Soccer confirmed they are in close contact with club medical teams regarding player fitness.
The governing body did not specify whether their star man will physically participate in this week’s camp or merely join the squad at a later date.
Home tournament preparations
Anticipation is growing rapidly as the North American nation prepares to co-host international football’s most prestigious event.
“These are the final days before we announce the squad that will represent Canada at a home World Cup, and the excitement in this group is real.”
Canada boss Jesse Marsch added that his squad remains fully concentrated on the monumental task ahead.
“We feel the momentum building across our country and we are calm, focused, and ready for this moment.”
Crucial warm-up fixtures
The co-hosts will face Uzbekistan in Edmonton on 1 June before concluding their preparations against the Republic of Ireland in Montreal four days later.
Their historic home World Cup campaign begins against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on 12 June.
The national side will then conclude their group stage matches against Qatar and Switzerland in Vancouver.
Their talismanic defender previously featured at the 2022 tournament, scoring a historic goal during a group-stage defeat by eventual semi-finalists Croatia.