Toronto FC midfielder Mo Edu is available for selection for Saturday's game against Kansas City Wizards (kick off 3:30 p.m. live on CBC). Edu has missed the last two games on international duty, but has now been allowed to return to BMO Field.
The U.S. beat Barbados 8-0 in the first leg of their World Cup Qualifying tie last weekend, and with such a commanding lead, Edu has been released to rejoin his club instead of heading to Barbados for the second leg this weekend.
"It's great to have Mo back," said Reds coach John Carver. "I'm very grateful to the U.S. team because they could have kept Mo for the next game but they've allowed us to bring him back."
Carver has started to prepare his side for the clash with K.C. and is hopeful that Greg Sutton and Jim Brennan may also be back in the squad. "We've had two good days on the training ground. We might even have Greg and Jim back because the Canada game is on Friday night. If they are not involved in the game, then hopefully we can use them in the squad at the weekend. I've got to pick a side that I think can win the game, but I've got to be fair to the lads here as well"
Julius James and Jarrod Smith have both travelled with the reserve team for the game at D.C. United on Wednesday. "It's important that if you're not in the first team, you retain your fitness," said Carver. "They've been involved with the first team on a regular basis, but they need to play games to keep up their match fitness. Julius has been out for a while with injuries so he needs another game under his belt. The only guys who aren't travelling to D.C. are the ones that played at the weekend and the international guys."
Carver is determined to add to his squad over the next few weeks. "The window is now open, and we will be busy. In preseason I asked the fans to be patient. I said we would get players in here to improve the squad, and we did. Now I'm saying the same thing again; just see what happens in the next few weeks, be patient, we will improve the squad."
