Central defender Joel Waterman will return to action on Saturday night when CF Montreal visits Nashville SC.
The Canadian was sidelined in the Bleu-blanc-noir’s first two games of the season and will hope to help the Montreal club get its first point of the campaign.
Waterman was ruled out a few dozen minutes before the first game of the season against Inter Miami due to a so-called “minor” injury by the Montreal team’s head coach, Hernán Losada. He also missed the game against Austin FC.
However, his return for Saturday’s game was predictable as he took part in club training during the week alongside his teammates. He occupied his usual place in the center hinge during the various exercises.
“Joel is going to be back. I hope he will be in good shape. His presence will give balance to the team, at least, I hope so,” said fellow defender Rudy Camacho after practice on Tuesday.
Waterman started 30 games last season at the right of the center hinge, mostly in the company of Kamal Miller and Camacho. For the first time this season, Losada will be able to count on the three central defenders and the two full-backs who have been identified as the starting players of the team.
The one who helped out in central defense during the first two games of the season, Samuel Piette, is not in training for the meeting. He was also missed during club training during the week. He left the duel against Austin at the 72e minute due to “cramps”.
For its part, the Tennessee club can count on the return of the player par excellence of the circuit in 2022, Hany Mukhtar, in the starting lineup. The German was limited to 15 minutes in their first game of the season, then played the second half of the second clash due to a hip injury.
The 2022 Garber Tour top scorer wasted no time in finding his touch, however, and has already picked up an assist this season.
Nashville (1-0-1) has yet to concede a goal this season while CFM has yet to rattle the ropes. Logically, it should be quite a complex clash for the CFM, but since when does it respect logic? The answer will come at 8:30 p.m. kick-off time.
The starting XI of CF Montreal
- Goalkeeper: Jonathan Sirois
- Defenders: Lassi Lappalainen, Kamal Miller, Rudy Camacho, Joel Waterman and Aaron Herrera
- Midfielders: Victor Wanyama and Mathieu Choinière
- Forwards: Romell Quioto, Sinusi Ibrahim and Sean Rea
Where to watch the game?
Like all of CF Montreal’s games this season, the game against Nashville SC will be presented through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+, starting at 8:30 p.m. Game description will be provided by Matt Cullen and Sebastien LeToux. The match will also be broadcast on RDS and on the radio at BPM Sports.