Canada names U-20 squad: Morgan, Saler not on the list

Canada has announced its roster for the U-20 CONCACAF championships, which kick off two days from now in Guatemala. “We are ready to challenge for a FIFA U-20 World Cup spot,” said U-20 coach Valerio Gazzola. “The players are upbeat and ready to play.” As expected, Toronto FC’s Ashtone Morgan was left off the roster. He was recalled by TFC boss Aron Winter to provide cover for what is still a very thin roster populated with a high ratio of teens. It’s easy to criticize TFC for ignoring one of the goals of Major League Soccer, which is to help develop the national programs in the U.S. and Canada; but, the reality is that Winter simply hasn’t yet signed enough older impact players to round out the squad. And it was clear, with so many TFC Academy prospects signed over the last year (six in total), that a mass call-up for the U-20s would cripple the Reds. There has been some quiet concern around MLS about how quickly TFC is promoting players from its Academy to the senior squad — even though league rules now allow clubs cartes blanche to do so. Unfortunately, it is Morgan who will suffer — as his development would be better served by going to Guatemala than by sitting on the Reds’ bench, providing cover. Doneil Henry, also pegged to be held back by TFC, was named to the squad. The U-20s will need leadership from two Whitecaps Residency products; midfielder Russell Teibert was excellent in his MLS debut, fresh off becoming only the second Canadian-born player to be given Generation Adidas status. Ethan Gage, who signed with Reading after his deal with the Whitecaps expired, has only seen time on the English Championship side’s reserve squad. With only a few months on a limited contract to impress the Reading bosses, his performance at the U-20s might mean a lot to his future in England. Niko Saler, the lone FC Edmonton player called to the U-20 camp, didn’t make the cut. CANADA 1- GK- Julien Latendresse Lévesque | GER / FC Energie Cottbus 2- CB- Tristan Grant | URU / Club Nacional 3- M/F- Ben Fisk | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4- CB/RB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC 5- CB- Derrick Bassi | Unattached / sans club 6- M- Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC 7- M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 8- M- Ethan Gage | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9- F- Stefan Cebara | HUN / Zalaegerszegi TE 10- M- Jonathan Osorio | URU / Club Nacional 11- M- John Pegg | USA / San Diego State University 12- F- Justin Maheu | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf 13- D- Andres Fresenga | URU / Racing Club de Montevideo 14- F- Coulton Jackson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency 15- F- Massimo Mirabelli | CAN / Portugal FC 16- RB/CB- Roger Thompson | USA / University of Cincinnati 17- F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / Club Nacional 18- GK- Jordan Santiago | ENG / Cardiff City FC 19- F- Jordan Ongaro | USA / San Diego State University 20- RB/CB- Francesco Augustin | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal