Canada star Tajon Buchanan is facing a long spell out of the game after suffering a broken leg in training on Tuesday.
Canada — who had arrived in Texas ahead of Friday’s 2024 Copa América quarterfinal against Venezuela — halted training after an unspecified incident ended with Buchanan in an ambulance.
TSN reported that scans revealed a broken tibia for the Inter wide man, with surgery set for Wednesday morning.
Buchanan’s prognosis was confirmed by Canada Soccer on Wednesday.
Canada Soccer can confirm that Tajon Buchanan underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia this morning in Fort Worth.
We wish Tajon the best in his recovery process and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch soon. pic.twitter.com/3XsTlHt6gx
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) July 3, 2024
Buchanan’s teammate Alistair Johnston called the incident “a freak accident,” adding in quotes published by TSN that it was “a nothing play, just a weird collision.”
Spoke to Alistair Johnston after Tajon Buchanan’s injury in Tuesday’s practice. Here are Johnston’s thoughts on Buchanan’s injury, the emotions watching it happen in practice, how close #CanMNT is as a group, and how the team will refocus for Venezuela @TSN_Sports @TSNSoccer pic.twitter.com/Q7d9ywVQUf
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) July 2, 2024
Buchanan has played in all three of Canada’s group-stage games, though manager Jesse Marsch had opted to start Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea ahead of him in each of the team’s last two matches.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Canada Soccer confirmed only that Buchanan suffered a “lower leg” injury and had been taken to a hospital for “further evaluation and treatment.”
In January, Buchanan made a winter transfer to Inter after success at Club Brugge. After a settling-in period, the Brampton native appeared in eight of the final 10 matches for the runaway Serie A champions.
For Canada, meanwhile, Marsch will likely look to Laryea and Nashville SC winger Jacob Shaffelburg to step in for Buchanan. However, the versatile 25-year-old’s absence will hit Canada in terms of tactical flexibility, speed, and cutting-edge in the attack.
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