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Herdman announces CanMNT squad for French Guiana tilt

John Herdman announced his 23-man squad for a final CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying fixture against French Guiana (March 24 at BC Place, 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET), with Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson returning to the fold following an impressive early showing in the 2019 MLS season.

Johnson, 32, was last called into the national team camp for a match against Curacao on June 13, 2017 in Montreal.

The rest of the squad remains relatively unchanged, with Scott Arfield also returning to the fold after recovering from a knock that kept him out of the last squad. Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio returns as well, joined by LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye, who has been in fine form for Bob Bradley’s side, scoring in a 4-1 over the Portland Timbers in his last club appearance.

“Every game you play at home is special, but this game has the little something extra as the result could really shape the destiny for Canada,” Herdman said in an issued statement.

“Having got to know this group of men, I know how important it is for them to play at home so that our heroes in red shirts are visible to our young fans, it’s a big part of why they do what they do,” he continued. “For the players coming back into Canada, there is always that extra emotion playing on home soil, these men have worked to earn the right to sing the national anthem with their fellow Canadians and to them there’s no better feeling, it’s just special and even more so when the game they’re about to play has real meaning and they hear and feel that Canadian support.”

Canada is currently one of six nations to have amassed nine points with three straight victories and will be looking to wrap up Nations League Qualifying with a fourth and final win in order to earn an automatic berth in both the 2019 Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nation League A, the top tier of three in this new international competition. A draw or a loss might also do the trick, depending on other results.

The full squad, below:

Goalkeepers: Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade), Maxime Crepeau (Whitecaps FC), Simon Thomas (Kongsvinger)

Defenders: Zachary Brault-Guillard (Montreal Impact), Marcus Godinho (Hearts), Derek Cornelius (Whitecaps FC), David Edgar (Hartlepool), Doneil Henry (Whitecaps FC), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Sam Adekugbe (Valerenga)

Midfielders: Scott Arfield (Rangers), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Will Johnson (Orlando City), Mark-Anthony Kaye (LAFC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (Montreal Impact), Russell Teibert (Whitecaps FC)

Forwards: Lucas Cavallini (Puebla), Jonathan David (KAA Gent), Cyle Larin (Besiktas), David Hoilett (Cardiff City), Liam Millar (Kilmarnock), Ballou Tabla (Albacete)