What a change of fortunes for Cyle Larin. While Steven Caldwell has been a backer of the Brampton, Ont.-born forward for some time, his lack of playing time and disastrous loan spell at Feyenoord forced Caldwell into removing Larin from his starting XI for Canada’s first match at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. There had even been conversations about whether or not the 30-year-old Larin would be in the 26-man squad at all.
All that talk has gone out the window since Larin moved to Southampton in January. Getting regular playing time with Saints, Larin looks reborn. He’s confident. He’s playing well. He’s scoring goals again. Look no further than his 61st-minute marker last week in a 5-1 thrashing of Wrexham to see the kind of play that made him a no-brainer to start so many of Canada’s matches in the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Caldwell has seen enough. With his four league goals in 11 appearances as Saints are firmly in control of a Championship playoff place with only five matches to play and an FA Cup semifinal date with Manchester City at Wembley on Apr. 25, Caldwell has made the call. Larin is locked in to Canada’s starting XI alongside Juventus’s Jonathan David.
The locking in of Larin isn’t the only change Caldwell has made this week. The other move comes on the bubble. Jonathan Osorio is back in the squad.
Race for the Roster: On the Bubble (TSN)
Caldwell brings back the Toronto FC captain into the group at the expense of Jacen Russell-Rowe. The 20-year-old Toronto native has had an up-and-down first season at Ligue 1 side Toulouse. Russell-Rowe is still looking for his first Ligue 1 goal.
As for Osorio, the Canada veteran has played well in TFC’s start to the campaign that has seen a six-match unbeaten run since a defeat to FC Dallas in Matchday 1. Currently sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Reds are looking for a first playoff appearance since 2020.
Still, Caldwell cautions that even if Osorio is to make the team, there might not be much playing time for the midfielder. A 33-year-old native of Toronto, Osorio is in his 14th senior season for his hometown club. He has nine goals in 89 appearances for Canada.
Here’s a look at this week’s team.
Race for the Roster: Week 39 (TSN) Race for the Roster: Week 39 (4-4-2)Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca)
BENCH: Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal) and Marcelo Flores (Tigres) INJ
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) INJ and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles), Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC) Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) INJ, Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) INJ and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham) INJ
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) and Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)