'I'm ready to start': Alphonso Davies still in injury recovery ahead of World Cup opener

There was positive news on the Canadian medical front Sunday with Alphonso Davies saying he is good to go for Canada's World Cup opener despite a hamstring strain suffered playing for Bayern Munich.

While Canada Soccer has not made Davies available at its daily availability, the 22-year-old from Edmonton pronounced himself ready in an interview with TSN.

"I'm ready to start," he told TSN in an interview.

Now he just has to convince the Canadian medical staff.

Canada, ranked 41st, makes its first appearance at the men's soccer showcase in 36 years when it takes on No. 2 Belgium in Group F play Wednesday.

"We want him on the field," said midfielder Jonathan Osorio. "He's our star player. He's a very important player for us. We'll see what the medical staff [says] when they examine him along with the coaching staff. In the end they decide, along with Alphonso if he's ready to go.

Luckily it wasn't too bad of an injury and now we're still in recovery. ... It's going well.— Alphonso Davies on his hamstring strain

"Of course him saying that is a huge positive for us."

Davies arrived in Qatar on Friday evening after undergoing treatment back at Bayern Munich for the injury sustained Nov. 6 in a Bundesliga game at Hertha Berlin.

WATCH | Alphonso Davies on his extraordinary journey to the top:

Alphonso Davies helps bring Canada back to the World Cup

2 years ago

Duration 13:28

At just 22 years old, Alphonso Davies is already considered by many to be the greatest Canadian soccer player of all time. He speaks to The National’s Ian Hanomansing about his extraordinary journey to the top, his career with Bayern Munich and bringing Canada back to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

'Happy to represent my country'

"When I picked up the injury at first, I was devastated, not just for me, but for the team that I was playing on at the time and obviously the World Cup," he added. "But luckily it wasn't too bad of an injury and now we're still in recovery, we're still trying to heal.

"It's going well, and I'm just happy to be here and happy to represent my country."

In speaking to reporters Saturday, Canada coach John Herdman was not quite as positive as Davies about his young star's participation Wednesday against Belgium at 2 p.m. ET.

Herdman said while Davies was able to take part in some of the contact work in training, "he's still building towards hitting his top speed."

"He hasn't hit that top speed yet and when you have hamstring injuries that's always the key moment. That's when the hamstring is pushed to its limits."

WATCH | Herdman speaks with Soccer North:

Previewing Canada at the World Cup & Sit-down with John Herdman

2 years ago

Duration 23:19

Host Andi Petrillo gets you caught up on the biggest storylines in Canadian soccer and sits down with John Herdman ahead of the World Cup

Davies appeared to hit one of those limits Monday during a warm-up drill when he grimaced and pulled up, seemingly favouring a leg. He returned to the warm-up but looked in visible discomfort for several seconds.

He was more upbeat on Sunday.

"I know they wouldn't put me on the pitch if it was, you know, 50-50. I think they 100 per cent knew that I'll be able to recover well and be able to play this tournament."

Davies took part in the brief portions of the training session open to media on Saturday and Sunday.

"It's a big boost," forward Jonathan David said.

Herdman also raised question marks over the health of midfielder Stephen Eustaquio and goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Both were on the training pitch in the part visible to reporters Monday.

Watch the new CBC Sports show Soccer North airing weekly on CBC Gem and CBC Sports' YouTube channel. Hosted by Andi Petrillo, Soccer North brings Canadians closer to the most interesting soccer headlines happening on and off the pitch.