Canada head coach Bev Priestman has not ruled out Liverpool goalkeeper Rylee Foster making the 18-player squad for the Olympic Games, although she admits that the player is one for the future.
The 22-year-old Ontario-born stopper received her first senior call-up earlier this year after impressing in her cameo appearances for her club and she has made a positive impression on national team head coach Priestman.
The 28-player Canadian squad for next month’s friendlies against the Czech Republic and Brazil was announced earlier today. Head coach Priestman handed call-ups to four goalkeepers, however, the selection did not include Liverpool’s Foster.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time in a Canada Soccer press conference, Priestman refused to rule out Foster’s chances of making the plane for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, although she did admit that the keeper’s chances of featuring for the nation in the longer term are more realistic.
“In the last camp, Rylee was outstanding for us on the pitch,” said Priestman. “Rylee for me, is a big part of the future.
“There is some reality around needing to see Sabrina (D’Angelo) because in my role I haven’t had Sabrina in due to her injury so I had to see her. That doesn’t necessarily take Rylee completely out of the mix but I think that she is realistic in knowing that she is a big part of the future. She has done very well coming in and could be part of our pre-camp and that investment in the future with Rylee.
“We could have an injury, anything could happen but Rylee is definitely on the right path to where we need her to be beyond an Olympic Games and you never know, anything can happen but I did need to see Sabrina and that was the reason (for Foster’s omission).”
Foster has previously represented her country at Under-17 and Under-20 levels. She featured for Canada at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2014 while she also won the Golden Glove at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship one year prior.
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