Canada defender Derek Cornelius has been hospitalized after suffering a non-contact lower body injury during a national team training session on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Marseille player was transported to a Toronto-area hospital for treatment and assessment.
Canada Soccer confirmed the incident in a statement. "Cornelius sustained a 'non-contact lower body injury' and was transported to hospital, where he is being treated and assessed," the organization said. Medical staff are focused on supporting the left-back, with further updates promised as appropriate.
The injury comes at a difficult time for the squad, who are preparing for their first matches since a historic run to the World Cup round of 16 this summer. Canada currently sit second in their World Cup qualifying group with four points from three games. Their next test is a friendly against Chile in Toronto on September 26, followed by games against Peru and the United States.
This setback follows another injury blow for manager Jesse Marsch, with midfielder Jeevan Badwal already ruled out of the camp due to a hamstring issue suffered while playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday. The team's recent form shows two wins, one draw, and two losses from their last five outings. Fans can track the team's preparations and the latest squad news on our squad page, with the full fixtures schedule also available. The immediate focus is on the Chile match, which kicks off at BMO Field on Friday.
This story first appeared at Sportsnet Soccer
