Ryan Johnston

Follow TFC and the Champions League with Twitter. I will update from training, on match day and whenever news breaks.

Canadian great, and Sportsnet analyst, Craig Forrest.

I have, on occasion, asked Dwayne De Rosario if a position in the Canadian soccer hierarchy is in the cards when his playing days come to a close. Never one to think about life off the field, De Ro politely declines and insists he has no place in politics.

The opposite is in fact true; as in the last 12 months his well-timed requests through the media have in part led to the laying down of grass at BMO Field and the installation of Stephen Hart as coach of the men's national team. There are sitting members of parliament that can only dream of such sweeping change in such a short period of time.

It is the latter of the two requests that facilitated the return of De Rosario to the national team fold after walking away in the wake of a dismal World Cup qualification run; citing irreconcilable differences with then coach Dale Mitchell.

But now, on January 31 in Jamaica, De Rosario's international career will begin in earnest again alongside Hart and four other Canadian teammates (Jazic, De Guzman, Hainault, Gerba) who came within one botched call of playing in the tournament final.

On Thursday, De Rosario spoke to me about the strength of the squad, and how he expects to see the return of attacking soccer under Hart. Hard to disagree considering just one of the players named - midfielder Carlo Rivas - is unattached and the lion's share of the 15 other out players are well-established domestically.

Where the concern exists is at the goalkeeper position; with only David Monsalve named to the squad. Hart mentioned during the media conference call that a second 'keeper would be added prior to the friendly in Jamaica, but all indication is that the suspected back up will be just as green as Monsalve.

The 21-year-old Monsalve did win a Finnish Cup with FC Inter Turku last season, but anyone who saw his appearance on the Footy Show this past weekend will agree that he is just a kid.

Canadian soccer has produced a wealth of out players over the last 10 years; many of whom have gone on to sell their wares for adopted homelands. Included in the list of defectors is Asmir Begovic, who recently decided the Bosnian national football team offered a better living. Begovic also collects his paycheque from the front office at Fratton Park in the English city of Portsmouth.

Canada's most successful and decorated goalkeeper retired from the game in 2002. It is inexcusable that a replacement has yet to be found.