Canada U-20 national team call six MLS youngsters into squad for Milk Cup in Northern Ireland

MLSsoccer staff

Six players representing MLS clubs have been named to the Canadian U-20 national team's roster for the prestigious Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland.

Toronto FC's Manny Aparicio, Montreal Impact academy member Louis Béland-Goyette, Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Marco Carducci and Whitecaps Residency prospects Nolan Wirth, Jackson Farmer and Kianz Froese are among those named to head coach Rob Gale's 18-player roster.

Collegians Quinton Duncan (Tulsa) and Brody Huitema (Duke) are also products of the Whitecaps Residency program.

Canada will open the tournament against CONCACAF rivals Mexico at Riada Stadium in Balleymoney on Monday, then meet China in Derry on Wednesday before concluding their schedule against the host country on Aug. 1.

READ: Impact Homegrown Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare ready to grow as pro, Canadian int'l

Milk Cup marks Canada's most important warm-up event ahead of the CONCACAF U-20 Championships, set to take place early next year.

“This is our only tournament as a group in preparation for qualifying in January,” said Gale (pictured above) in a statement. “So we aim to use it in a number of specific tactical ways and have objectives that will help us build for the future.”

The U-20s' most prominent absence is Fraser Aird, the Scottish-Canadian dual national who switched his international allegiance to Canada earlier this year. The Rangers FC starlet has withdrawn from Milk Cup involvement due to what the Canadian Soccer Association termed “a minor injury.”

Full Canada U-20 roster