The Halifax Wanderers revealed their full squad for 2023 preseason training camp on Wednesday, which includes 22 contracted players as well as three U SPORTS trialists.

As part of the announcement, the club confirmed that, unfortunately, 2021 CPL Player of the Year João Morelli is still undergoing his recovery process from ACL surgery last June, and will therefore miss at least the first half of the 2023 season. Morelli is continuing his rehab at home in Brazil at the moment, and does not yet count toward the club’s roster limit or salary cap.

“We’re continuing to support João throughout his recuperation as his long-term health is our number one priority,” Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan said. ”We’ve built our roster so that we were prepared for this scenario and look forward to the possibility of João rejoining the squad when the time is right.”

Morelli was the top player in the CPL in 2021, winning the Golden Boot with 14 goals and taking home the league’s Player of the Year award. He scored in the Wanderers’ first match of 2022 against York United, but an injury suffered in their second match against Atlético Ottawa ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Halifax also confirmed that midfielder Aidan Daniels, with Morelli’s permission, will be wearing the no. 10 shirt this year.

The Wanderers’ 2023 training camp begins at home in Halifax but will move to Auburndale, Florida on March 13. Joining their 22 signed players is a trio of U SPORTS trialists: defenders Kareem Sow and Anthony Stolar, and goalkeeper Aiden Rushenas.

Sow has played for the club previously on a U SPORTS deal, and both Stolar and Rushenas were selected by the Wanderers in the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft (third and 10th overall, respectively). The club’s full preseason roster is below:

Goalkeepers: 1. Yann Fillion.

Defenders: 2. Daniel Nimick 3. Zach Fernandez 4. Cristian Campagna 5. Cale Loughrey 7. Ryan James 20. Jake Ruby 22. Mo Omar 23. Riley Ferrazzo

Midfielders: 6. Lorenzo Callegari 10. Aidan Daniels 13. Armaan Wilson 14. Callum Watson  18. Andre Rampersad 24. Tomas Giraldo

Forwards: 8. Massimo Ferrin 9. Theo Collomb 11. Kosi Nwafornso 17. Wesley Timoteo 19. Tiago Coimbra 25. Ludwig Kodzo Amla 37. Fumpa Mwandwe

U SPORTS Trialists: Kareem Sow (DEF), Aiden Rushenas (GK), Anthony Stolar (DEF)