Bulls Abroad: Russell Canouse out of U-20 World Cup

As the US U-20 Men's National Team makes ready for the upcoming U-20 World Cup (kicking off on May 30 for the USA), Tab Ramos has announced one significant change to his squad: midfielder Russell Canouse has succumbed to injury and his coach has decided the player is unlikely to recover in time to contribute to the tournament in New Zealand.

It is unquestionably a blow for Canouse and the team: he captained the side during the CONCACAF qualifying competition that sent the US squad to this World Cup.

And Canouse was once a Red Bull academy kid (part of the same US U-15 cohort as Santiago Castano and Adam Najem), before circumstances brought him to Germany and his current club, Hoffenheim.

The midfielder's departure also brings additional challenge for the U-20's sole current Red Bull, Matt Miazga. Curiously, Canouse's replacement is not like-for-like: Orlando City's Conor Donovan is typically regarded as a defender. As such, there may be a little extra competition for places on the back line as the tournament progresses.