Music: {allcanada} Canada faces injuries ahead of Gold Cup

Monday, June 6, 2011

{allcanada} Canada faces injuries ahead of Gold Cup

DETROIT -- Canada is hurting ahead of its Gold Cup opener against the U.S. on Tuesday.

"We have a couple of injury concerns," Canadian soccer coach Stephen Hart told a media conference call Monday. "We're just waiting on some fitness tests which we'll conduct later today and decisions will be made."

Hart would not say who was injured but midfielder Julian de Guzman missed training Sunday.

The Canadian coach did confirm that Burnley defender David Edgar had been added to the 23-man squad in place of Dejan Jakovic, who has been ruled out of the tournament after injuring his hamstring in last week's exhibition tie with Ecuador.

"It takes away the depth in the position," said Hart, noting that Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann was also unavailable through injury.

Edgar, midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran and goalkeeper Haidar Al-Shaibani are named in the Canadian squad but will not join the team unless there is an injury, Hart said.

That's because the Gold Cup doesn't allow everyone on the roster to dress and Hart didn't want to bring players in to watch from the stands.

"We've travelled with 20," he said.

Hart said he expects he will change up his formation in the three pool games, depending on who is in form.

Canada plays Guadeloupe and Panama after the American game.