Bulls Abroad: Karl Ouimette called up for Canada’s October friendlies

Canada’s Men’s National Team is in a state of transition, again. After getting bounced out of World Cup qualifying by Honduras, again. And dropping its head coach, again.

Michael Findlay will serve as interim head coach, at least for Canada’s upcoming October friendlies against Mauritania and Morocco.

The official roster announcement is expected next week, but clubs are generally notified of call-ups in advance - and Jacksonville Armada has revealed Karl Ouimette has been summoned to his national team squad.

This is good news for Ouimette, who is on loan to the Armada from the New York Red Bulls. He hasn’t had a game for his current club since August 6. His loan out of RBNY, despite the team’s near-constant, back-line injury woes, suggests he might be in need of a new place to play in the off-season. All players need playing time, players possibly auditioning for a new gig really need playing time.

Currently, it seems unlikely that Canada’s squad for its October games will be a full-strength team. Absent competitive matches or even a full-time new coach to impress, senior players with pressing club commitments (like, say, MLS playoffs to push for) would be well advised to duck the call-up. And Canada would be well advised to let them duck it.

But for a player in Ouimette’s position, minutes for his national team with the winter transfer window looming would be very helpful.

We’ll have to wait for the full squad announcement to have a better sense of Canada’s plan for October. For Ouimette, his national team’s next games are his best chance of getting his club career back on track.