As Canada opens camp in Toronto for its final two friendlies of 2025, there will be two new faces in the squad and Steven Caldwell can already envision them at next summer’s World Cup.
In Middlesbrough centre-back Alfie Jones and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman, currently on loan at Huddersfield Town, Caldwell sees two additions to his 26-man Canada roster. In bringing aboard Jones and Goodman, Caldwell says goodbye (for now) to Brighton’s Tom McGill and Jamie Knight-Lebel of Bristol City, currently on loan at Swindon Town. Of the two new faces, Jones is the more likely of the duo to see action this week against Ecuador in Toronto and Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Race for the Roster: Alfie Jones (TSN)
Jones, 27, had played in every minute for Boro this season prior to getting sent off in the final minute of last Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Leicester City. A native of Bristol, Jones is in his first season at the Riverside after spending the past four seasons at Hull City. A product of the Southampton academy, Jones also had a loan spell in the Scottish Premiership with St. Mirren.
A hard-nosed, chippy defender, Jones has significant experience in a bruising league like the Championship and has a considerable edge in professional playing time over the 20-year-old Luc de Fougerolles, who is currently in his first pro season on loan at Dender. Over the past year, Jones has won 2.25 aerials per 90 minutes and averaged 5.54 clearances, 1.28 blocks and 1.12 tackles. His 6-foot-3 frame should also come in handy on set pieces. With Derek Cornelius picking up an apparent injury in Rangers’ 3-0 win over Dundee on Sunday, there is a chance that Jones could be handed a start in one of Canada’s two friendlies.
So with the new additions, let’s take a look at Caldwell’s bubble players right now.
Race for the Roster: Week 23 – On the Bubble (TSN)
Interestingly enough, three players who Caldwell does not have on his team are in Canada’s camp this week in Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio, Jayden Nelson of the Vancouver Whitecaps and veteran defender Kamal Miller of the Portland Timbers. With Canada thin in central defence right now due to injury, Miller is another player who could get a serious look this week in the two matches.
Here is the current 26-man squad.
Race for the Roster: Week 23 (TSN) Race for the Roster: Week 23 (4-4-2)Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Cyle Larin (Feyenoord, on loan from Mallorca)
BENCH: Promise David (Union SG), Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth) and Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) INJ, Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville), Ismael Koné (Sassuolo, on loan from Marseille), David “Junior” Hoilett (Hibernian), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps) INJ, Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham)
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers) and Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
IN THE HUNT: : James Pantemis (Portland Timbers) and Jonathan Sirois (CF Montreal)