Canada Soccer announced Friday that five members of Toronto FC have been called into the Canadian Men’s national team. Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, Defenders Ashtone Morgan, Kevon Black midfielders Chris Mannella and Jonathan Osorio have been called into Canadian Head Coach Benito Floro’s 24-man roster for the team’s first camp of 2015. Canada will also play in two friendly matches against Iceland on Monday, January 12 and 19. Both matches will take place at the University of Central Florida.
Osorio, 22, has earned nine caps for Canada. His most recent cap for Canada was on November 18, 2014 in a friendly match against Panama where he came on in the 62nd minute, in a 0-0 draw. He made 29 combined appearances, scoring three goals for Toronto FC between MLS league matches and the Amway Canadian Championship last season.
Morgan, 23, has earned nine caps for Canada. He became the first graduate of Toronto FC’s Academy to appear for the Canadian Men’s national team, when he came on as a substitute against Saint Lucia on October 7, 2011. Last season, Morgan made a combined five appearances in all competitions, and was named to the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster where he started the match and played 78 minutes on August 4 vs Portland Timbers U23.
Roberts, 20, earns his third call up to the Canadian Men’s national senior squad, but has yet to earn his first cap. He was an unused substitute in Canada’s friendly match on October 14, 2014 vs Colombia. Last season Roberts spent time on loan with Toronto FC’s USL PRO Club affiliate Wilmington Hammerheads FC before being recalled on August 6. He appeared and started in 17 matches, logging 1514 minutes, with a record of 5-4-8 while registering six clean sheets. He was named the USL PRO Player of the Week for Week 18, and was also named to the USL PRO Team of the week for week 8.
Mannella, 20, earns his first call up to the Canadian Men’s national senior squad. Last season, he was selected into the 18-man roster for the first time, and was an unused substitute on October 26, 2014 vs New England Revolution. He became the tenth Kia Academy player in club history to sign for the First Team on September 15, 2014. Mannella originally joined the Kia Toronto FC Junior Academy Team in 2009 at the age of 15.
Black, 18, earns his first call up to the Canadian Men’s national senior squad. In his freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils, he appeared in 19 matches. A member of the Kia Toronto FC Academy squad since 2012, he was also selected to the U17 Canadian national team where he made his debut in the Canadian youth program in 2011. He won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2013 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship in Panama. He also represented Canada at FIFA U17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates where he played every minute as a steadying force in the back for Canada at the U17 World Cup.
