Ricketts Lone Toronto FC Player to Represent Canada in September World Cup Qualifiers

At this point, Toronto FC supporters are used to Canadian national team roster controversies. With each passing camp since the 2015 Gold Cup, the questions return as to why Jonathan Osorio has not been called to play for Canada. Osorio, it would seem, has skills that aren't really found elsewhere in the Canadian setup.

At this point, however, it is to be expected that Osorio is left off the roster, he doesn't really fit the style that Canadian manager Benito Floro likes to play. Teammate Will Johnson, on the other hand, was a surprise omission from today's roster announcement. The veteran midfielder, when healthy, has been a fixture in the Canadian national team side.

No reason has been given as to why Johnson was left off the team, and like the Osorio situation it may never truly surface. One thing is for certain, though: Canada could have used a player like Will Johnson as they head into a massive match in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

That means Tosaint Ricketts will be the lone Toronto FC player who represents Canada in Honduras on September 2 and September 6 against El Salvador. Canada is looking to qualify for the final round of World Cup qualifying, otherwise known as the Hex, for the first time since the 1998 cycle.

In order to advance, Canada needs to finish second in their round three qualifying group. They currently sit third after a pair of losses to Mexico, meaning they will almost certainly need a result in Honduras if they want to advance.

Beyond the Toronto FC omissions, there were no real surprises in this lineup. Mainstays like Junior Hoilett, Cyle Larin, Atiba Hutchinson, Scott Arfield, Ricketts and David Edgar are all present. Doneil Henry appears to have recovered from yet another injury setback, and returns to the lineup.

Canada will be thin in the centre of midfield, however, as Captain Julian De Guzman of the Ottawa Fury has been forced to miss the camp through injury. De Guzman has been one of the first names on Benito Floro's team sheet since he took over as Canadian head coach.

Below is the full roster:

1- GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
4- CB- Dejan Jaković | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse
5- CB / M- David Edgar | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6- M- Jamar Dixon | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
7- M- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Walsall FC
8- FB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United
9- F- Marcus Haber | Unattached
10- M- David Junior Hoilett | Unatached
11- M- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
12- CB- André Hainault | GER / 1. FC Magdeburg
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
14- M- Samuel Piette | ESP / CD Izarra
15- CB- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
16- M- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC
17- FB- Marcel De Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18- GK- Milan Borjan | BUL / PFK Ludogorets Razgrad
19- CB- Steven Vitória | POL / Lechia Gdansk
20- FB / CB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / Jacksonville Armada
21- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol
23- M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas