VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Tuesday that defender Marcel de Jong, and midfielders Marco Bustos, Russell Teibert, and Ben McKendry, as well as Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Sean Melvin, have been called up to the Canadian senior men’s national team for an upcoming training camp and friendly versus Bermuda.
Players on the 28-man roster depart for camp in Fort Lauderdale on January 12. Among the group, 18 will be selected to travel to Bermuda for the friendly. Those involved in the Bermuda trip return with the club on January 24, joining Whitecaps FC for preseason camp in the United Kingdom.
The January 22 international friendly versus Bermuda will be played at the Bermuda National Sports Centre, broadcast live at 11 a.m. PT on canadasoccer.com.
"We want to give our players an early advantage heading into their pre-seasons, but also give our staff an opportunity to observe, evaluate, and educate a larger group of players," said Michael Findlay, Canada Soccer's men's national team interim head coach. "This project also provides an internal competition within the larger group as only 18 will be selected for travel to the match."
De Jong and Bustos return to the national team after participating in a training camp in November, including a friendly versus Korea Republic. The 'Caps duo each played the full 90 minutes, with Bustos earning Canada Player of the Match honours. McKendry and Teibert were also among the selections for the Korea camp but were unable to participate due to injury.
De Jong has scored three times in 49 appearances for Canada, while Teibert has one goal in 17 caps. Bustos has four senior international appearances under his belt.
More than half of the squad is 24 or younger, with eight that have yet to make their international debut, including McKendry and Melvin. McKendry is one of five players to receive their first-ever call up to the men's national team, including Whitecaps FC Residency graduate Marco Carducci.
Unavailable due to injury is Whitecaps FC centre back David Edgar.
This will mark the ninth meeting between the Canada and Bermuda, dating back to FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1968. Canada are unbeaten in that stretch with four wins and four draws, including a 3-0 win in their last meeting 10 years ago on March 25, 2007. Over the past two years, Canada's overall record is 9W-8L-7D in 24 international matches against all opponents.
CANADA
GK- Marco Carducci |
GK- Callum Irving | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
GK- Sean Melvin | CAN / Whitecaps FC 2
CB- Nana Attakora | USA / San Francisco Deltas
CB- Dejan Jaković |
CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
FB- Jamar Dixon | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
FB- Karl W. Ouimette |
M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
M- Kyle Bekker |
M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Jay Chapman | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Ben Fisk | CAN / FC Edmonton
M- Carl Haworth | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Ben McKendry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Adam Straith |
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Maxim Tissot |
F- Molham Babouli | CAN / Toronto FC
F- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC II
F- Jordan Hamilton | CAN / Toronto FC
F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
F- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
