Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be without six players due to international duty this Saturday when they host New York Red Bulls at BC Place (4 p.m. PT on TSN1 – tickets still available), as group play continues in the fourth round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Here’s a rundown of who’s missing on both teams – and who might replace them.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Marcel de Jong (LB):Canada vs. Honduras (Sept. 2) and El Salvador (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacement: Jordan Harvey has now missed five straight matches with an MCL sprain, but he appears to be nearing a return. If he’s not fully fit in time for this weekend, then we could see Saskatchewan native Brett Levis make his MLS debut.
David Edgar (CB): Canada vs. Honduras (Sept. 2) and El Salvador (Sept. 6)
Kendall Waston (CB):Costa Rica vs. Haiti (Sept. 2) and Panama (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacements: You’d have to think that Tim Parker draws back into the centre of defence with Edgar and Waston away. Midfielder Andrew Jacobson is also an option here, but you can bet rookie Cole Seiler will be fighting for a spot as well.
Christian Bolaños (M):Costa Rica vs. Haiti (Sept. 2) and Panama (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacement: With Bolaños suspended this past weekend, Pedro Morales and Fraser Aird occupied the wings. Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson could return to that look, or he could call upon the likes of Cristian Techera or Alphonso Davies.
Giles Barnes (F):Jamaica vs. Panama (Sept. 2) and Haiti (Sept. 6)
Blas Perez (F):Panama vs. Jamaica (Sept. 2) and Costa Rica (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacements: If Robinson decides to stick with Erik Hurtado in a 4-4-2 formation, then Masato Kudo and Nicolas Mezquida are prime candidates to partner with him. Kudo and Mezquida have also played well together at home, so that could be an option too.
NEW YORK RED BULLS
Kemar Lawrence (LB):Jamaica vs. Panama (Sept. 2) and Haiti (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacement: Good chance 22-year-old left back Justin Bilyeu jumps into the lineup with Connor Lade sidelined for the season. The Red Bulls selected Bilyeu at 18th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
Sacha Kljestan (M):U.S. vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Sept. 2) and Trinidad & Tobago (Sept. 6)
- Potential replacement: Based on what New York has done in the few games Kljestan has not played this season, I’d expect either Felipe or Sean Davis to move up into the attacking midfield position. That said, Designated Player striker Veron could also be an option here.
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