Davies was on the receiving end of a few heavy tackles in Friday’s 2-0 win over Qatar and had to keep getting up.
Davies eventually limped off the field in the 60th minute after a hard challenge, but Herdman appeared unconcerned during the post-game press conference.
“He was due to come off in the 55th minute, so I was a bit frustrated he hadn’t come off by the time he took that knock,” Herdman said. “We’re assessing him now; he seemed OK on the bench, he seemed OK after the game and he was in good spirits, so I don’t think there is anything too worrisome yet.”
Such is good news for Canada, who have two exhibition games remaining before kicking a ball at a men’s World Cup tournament for the first time since 1986.
Canada will face Uruguay in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday and then take on Japan in Dubai, UEA on Nov. 17, six days before its World Cup opener against Belgium.
Earlier in the game against Qatar, Davies was cracked on the ankle after flicking the ball to Jonathan David for Canada’s second goal. Davies was slow to get up to join the rest of his team in celebration.
“We might have to wrap those players in cotton wool,” Herdman told OneSoccer. “But at the same time, they’re pretty tough.
By all indications, Davies should be good to go against Uruguay, who represent Canada’s best opponent since traveling to face Argentina in 2010 and being dismantled by Diego Maradona’s men 5-0 in Buenos Aires.
Herdman will also have to make a decision on winger Tajon Buchanan, who is nursing a quad injury sustained in the preseason with his Belgian side, Club Brugge. Buchanan is with the team but did not play against Qatar.
“We had a feeling he might be available for this (international) window and Brugge did a good job of just holding him back and not risking him,” Herdman said. “We’ve supported that as well. He probably could have been on the bench (Friday), but he’s so important to this country, it’s about doing the right him for him
Considering Qatar lost 3-0 to the Croatia Under-23 team Tuesday in Austria, perhaps it wasn’t all that surprising Canada dominated the World Cup hosts Friday.
Canada is the only country of the 32 teams participating, who are not getting a new uniform design for the World Cup.
Nike has been Canada’s official uniform supplier since 2018 and stated there was not enough time to develop a new look for the team once it officially qualified. Last week, when introducing 12 other new uniform designs, Nike said regarding Canada:
“The 2022 Canada kit will be the same the team has worn throughout the past year, as Canada Soccer is on a different kit development cycle. The kits are highlighted by Canada’s traditional red and white color scheme and are accentuated by the Canadian Soccer crest, featuring the maple leaf, the nation’s most widely recognized symbol.”
Canada is expected to wear all three of its current jerseys (red, white, and black) for its three Group F games in Qatar.
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