Canada will be missing some important pieces when it takes on Mexico at historic Azteca Stadium in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying play Thursday.

Coach John Herdman said veteran goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who is recovering from COVID, did not make the trip. The Red Red Star Belgrade B次元官网网址榢eeperB次元官网网址檚 contribution instead was limited to a video message to the team.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 pretty emotional,B次元官网网址� said Herdman. B次元官网网址淭his is a big loss for us. Not just as a goalkeeper but his presence. HeB次元官网网址檚 been unbelievable with this group during this campaign.B次元官网网址�

Captain Atiba Hutchinson and forward Cyle Larin (Besiktas, Turkey) are both returning from injury and also absent. Striker Lucas Cavallini continues his return-to-play protocols with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e monitoring them every day. WeB次元官网网址檙e getting good information thatB次元官网网址檚 leaving us hopeful B次元官网网址� hopeful that they might join us in this (international) window,B次元官网网址� Herdman said.

Canada, on the climb in recent months, is ranked 51st in the world, compared to No. 9 for Mexico.

After playing No. 59 Jamaica in Kingston on Sunday, the Canadians return home to face No. 68 Panama at TorontoB次元官网网址檚 BMO Field next Wednesday.

Canada Soccer had previously said veteran forward Junior Hoilett (Reading, England) and midfielder David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone, Scotland) would meet the team in Jamaica ahead of the weekend match against the Reggae Boyz so as to avoid the quarantine that visitors to Mexico have to undergo when returning to Britain.

Herdman, speaking to reporters virtually from Azteca Stadium on Wednesday evening, said Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was with the team.

In the absence of Borjan, Canada is expected to start VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Maxime Crepeau in goal. Crepeau was impressive in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2-1 loss to Mexico at the Gold Cup semifinal in late July, stopping one of two penalty kicks as well as making a marvellous stop on Rodolfo PizarroB次元官网网址檚 header in injury time. Mexico eventually won the game with a goal in the 99th minute.

Herdman says he saw B次元官网网址渢hat little bit of fear in the Mexican teamB次元官网网址� that day. And he expects a big pushback Thursday.

B次元官网网址淲e left a mark on them in that last game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd good teams, good players, championship teams, they step up.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� The Canadian Press