Four NASL Players Called To Canada Squad For USA Friendly
FC Edmonton goalkeeper Tyson Farago, defender Mallan Roberts, and midfielder Nik Ledgerwood as well as Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Julian de Guzman will attend the Canadian men’s national team training camp from Jan. 25 - Feb. 6, 2016. It will be the first invite to the senior team for Farago. Eddies teammate Roberts earned his first cap in 2015, while Ledgerwood has 45 appearances to date. De Guzman currently has the career appearance mark with 85.
Farago made two starts for the Eddies during the 2015 NASL season, impressing in both appearances. The Winnipeg native signed with Edmonton in the 2014 offseason after impressing at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Premier Development League (PDL) levels.
Roberts received Canadian citizenship in early 2015 and earned his first senior cap with Canada in June. The towering centre back played a pivotal role on the Eddies’ back line during the 2015 NASL campaign, collecting 1980 minutes in 21 league appearances.
Ledgerwood, one of the Eddies most recent signings, has been a fixture for the Canadian national program since debuting at the youth level in 2001. The Lethbridge, Alta. native signed with Edmonton during the offseason and will make his debut in blue and white this Fall Season.
De Guzman joined Ottawa ahead of the 2015 season and made 15 appearance for Fury FC as the club reached The Championship Final. He serves as the national team's captain surpassed Paul Stalteri's mark to become the most-capped Canadian player on Nov. 13, 2015.
A total of 23 players were called in for the upcoming international friendly against the United States. Canada's national team players, selected by head coach Benito Floro, will begin travel to camp from their respective clubs on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016.
Canada will face CONCACAF neighbors, the U.S., in the Friday, Feb. 5 friendly at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., just south of Los Angeles.
The upcoming camp will continue Canada's preparations for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers. The Canadian squad features a mix of experience and youth, with most players drawn from clubs based in Canada and the U.S. whose 2016 seasons have yet to begin.
"We need to continue to put forth our best defense, our best attack, and our best set pieces in 2016," Floro said. "Last year, we scored 18 goals and conceded only six, but we could have scored more through the chances we created. We need to improve our last pass and our shots on target."
The international test will help Canada prepare for two upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Mexico - at home on Friday, Mar. 25 and away on Tuesday, Mar. 29.
CANADA
1- GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- FB- Samuel Adekugbe | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
4- CB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United
5- CB / M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
7- M- Iain Hume | Unattached
8- M- Will Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC
9- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
10- M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Impact Montréal
11- M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | MAS / Terengganu FA
12- CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal
13- M- Jamar Dixon | FIN / FF Jaro
14- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
15- CB / FB- Steven Vitória | POR / Benfica
16- M- Kianz Froese | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
17- M- Marcel De Jong | USA / Sporting Kansas City
18- GK- Tyson Farago | CAN / FC Edmonton
19- F- Caleb Clarke | Unattached
20- FB / CB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
21- CB- Mallan Roberts | CAN / FC Edmonton
22- GK- Callum Irving | USA / University of Kentucky
23- F- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
