FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - At 39 years of age and out of his country's national team picture since 2004, Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad could be forgiven for believing that his Canadian national team career was over.
Two injuries, a couple of phone calls and a pair of flights later, Onstad has donned the red and white of the Maple Leafs twice in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and looks to start in Canada's quarterfinal match against Guatemala on Saturday afternoon.
"I was like a little kid when I got the call," Onstad said.
Onstad's return to the national team was originally designed as one match, emergency cover. Backup goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar picked up an injury and was unable to cover for Toronto FC and Canadian No. 1 Greg Sutton.
Given that Onstad was suspended for Houston's league match against FC Dallas on June 7, Canadian officials turned to the experienced veteran to lend a hand.
"They had an injury to Josh Wagenaar," Onstad said. "They called me up as an emergency backup, and then Greg got concussed."
Sutton suffered a concussion in practice, handing Onstad a start in Canada's 2-1 victory against Costa Rica on June 6.
Onstad then returned to Houston to join up with Dynamo prior to their 2-1 victory in Columbus on June 10.
As he walked off the field at Crew Stadium, Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear had some news for Onstad: he was heading back to the Gold Cup.
"The first time, [Kinnear] said just go ahead," Onstad said. "The second time, I didn't even know until I walked off the field in Columbus. Dom told me that I had a flight booked for Miami the next morning. It was the first I'd heard of it."
Canadian interim head coach Stephen Hart, an assistant coach who is in control of the team until newly-appointed head coach Dale Mitchell can take over after the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, said that the cautious approach by the team towards Sutton's health brought Onstad back into the fold.
"The main difficulty was Greg's health," Hart said. "Pat helped us out. Greg's been training a bit and we're monitoring him closely."
Onstad leapt at the chance to return to the international scene. The Dynamo goalkeeper, who captained the Canadians during the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign under current Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop, claimed the last of his 47 caps in 2004 prior to his return for the Gold Cup.
"It's fantastic," Onstad said. "I love getting in for my country. I though I was done in 2004."
Hart pointed to Onstad's eagerness to rejoin the fold as a principle factor in the decision to bring Onstad back into the national team.
"The main thing for me was the fact there was no hesitation," Hart said. "We want guys that want to play for their country."
The arrangement is easier for both club and country because Houston has a previously scheduled bye week this weekend, allowing Onstad to not miss any club contests until the semifinal stages.
"[Houston] doesn't have a game until next Thursday," Onstad said. "Even if we win the next three games, I'd only miss two games for my club. I haven't missed any games. I don't think I'd mind if I got to that point."
Onstad's international renaissance looks likely to continue this weekend.
When asked about Sutton's status for the quarterfinal against Guatemala, Hart said that Sutton "was not ready" and that Onstad was likely to start and earn his 50th cap.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
