Yallop Announces Roster For N. Ireland

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s National Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 16-player roster for the upcoming international friendly against Northern Ireland in Belfast on February 9. The game will be played at Windsor Park with an 8:00 p.m. local time kickoff.



“This is our first international friendly since the Wales game last year and it will be good to get a quality game under our belts,” said Yallop. “The Gold Cup this summer is an important event for us and this is part of the preparation process as we gear up for the tournament.”



Eleven of the players selected played in Canada’s 1-0 win over Guatemala on November 17, 2004. Yallop has also chosen defender Marco Reda, who is now playing with Aalborg in Denmark, along with midfielder Mike Klukowski who recently signed with FC Brugge in Belgium.



Iain Hume and Daniel Imhof return to the squad after missing the Guatemala game while Norwich City midfielder Jim Brennan has also been called in for the first time since the Belize series.



Lars Hirschfeld, who last week signed with Leicester City of the League Championship and the Montreal Impact’s Greg Sutton are the two keepers chosen.



Joining Reda in defence are left back Josh Simpson from Millwall, Kevin McKenna of Hearts, Gabriel Gervais of the Impact and Atiba Hutchinson of Sweden’s Helsingborg.



Rounding out the midfield is Jaime Peters, fresh off the success of last week’s CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Honduras for the FIFA World Youth Championship, along with Patrice Bernier from Tromso in Norway and Millwall’s Adrian Serioux.



Up front, Yallop has also selected Odd Grenland’s Olivier Occean along with Dwayne de Rosario who is currently on trial with FC Aarhus in Denmark.



The squad will gather in Belfast on February 6 and train there for two days before the friendly. The team will then gather in the Algarve on March 20 in preparation for their friendly against Portugal in Barcelos on March 26.



Canadian Roster For International Friendly vs Northern Ireland



Namet PostClubtDOBtCapstGoals/Shutouts

33tLars HirschfeldtGKtLeicester City, League Championshipt10/17/78t17t5

1tGreg SuttontGKtMontreal Impact, USL First Divisiont4/19/77t1t1

3tGabriel GervaistDtMontreal Impact, USL First Divisiont9/18/76t3t0t

13tAtiba HutchinsontMtHelsingborg, Swedish Premiert3/8/83t11t1

14tDwayne de RosariotFtAarhus, Danish First Divisiont5/15/78t27t7

15tJosh SimpsontDtMillwall, League Championshipt5/15/83t6t0

7tJaime PeterstMtIpswich Town, League Championshipt5/4/87t5t0

9tOlivier OcceantFtOdd Grenland, Norwegian Premiert10/23/81t7t0

10tPatrice BerniertMtTromso, Norwegian Premiert9/23/79t6t0

4tKevin McKennatDtHearts, Scottish Premiert1/21/80t25t7

12tMike KlukowskitD/MtFC Brugge, Belgian First Divisiont5/27/81t3t0

6tAdrian SeriouxtMtMillwall, English League Championshipt5/12/79t2t0

8tDaniel ImhoftMtSt. Gallen, Swiss First Divisiont11/22/77t29t0

16tIain HumetFtTranmere Rovers, English League Onet10/20/83t10t0

11tJim BrennantMtNorwich City, English Premiert5/8/77t34t3

5tMarco RedatDtAalborg, Danish First Divisiont6/22/77t0t0



Staff

Andy SharpettHead of Delegation

Frank YallopttHead Coach

Mark WatsonttAssistant Coach

Morgan QuarryttTeam Manager

Victor MendesttEquipment Manager

Kevin WagnerttPhysiotherapist

Ed JohnsonttDoctor