Atlético Ottawa confirmed on Monday that defender Jonathan Grant has been placed on the club’s inactive roster list for the 2024 Canadian Premier League season, following an injury sustained during preseason training.

Grant suffered a knee injury whilst in Ottawa and, following further medical diagnosis, it has been confirmed that the 30-year-old will not return to action until the end of the 2024 CPL season. The Guyana international, who recently joined Atlético on a two-year contract, will not participate in the preseason training camp in Mexico as he recovers from surgery in Canada.

“It’s truly unfortunate to see Jonny sidelined with this injury during our preseason preparations,” said Fernando López, CEO, Atlético Ottawa. “We brought him in because he’s a quality defender and was going to be an integral part of our team, especially thanks to his CPL and international experience. We wish him a quick recovery and hope to see him back on the pitch soon. This setback means we must now act to fill the open roster spot with the cap space made available. We are already working on solutions for this season to ensure our squad remains competitive and ready for the challenges ahead.”

“There’s no question that this will be the biggest test in my career,” said Grant. “It’s unfortunate because you always want to tackle and surmount difficult challenges on the pitch, but now my focus will go toward giving everything I have got to make sure I can get back to doing what I love. It’s going to be very difficult but I know it’s a situation that I can see through, grow from and fight to come back stronger.”

By being placed on the club’s inactive roster list, Grant will not be able to feature for Atlético Ottawa in the 2024 CPL season even if he should recover before the end of the campaign. Atlético Ottawa will be heavily involved with Grant’s recovery process, while the player will still play a crucial role off the pitch and in the locker room this season. Everyone at the club wishes Grant a swift recovery.