Bayern Munich left defender Alphonso Davies will be out for several weeks due to symptoms of myocarditis, the club confirmed on Friday.
Davies will also miss Canada’s next three World Cup qualifying matches, including the encounter against the United States on January 30, the Canadian squad stated later.
“We noticed evidence of mild myocarditis, i.e. an inflammation of the heart muscle, in Phonzy yesterday when we did our follow-up assessment, which we undertake with every player who has had COVID-19,” Bayern manager Julian Nagelsman stated in a news conference.
“He won’t be able to train until further notice. He will be unavailable in the future weeks as well. This myocarditis isn’t as severe as the ultrasound suggests, but it’s still a symptom of myocarditis. It must, however, heal, and this will take some time.”
Davies, 21, has been instrumental in Canada’s advancement in CONCACAF. Canada leads the rankings after eight of fourteen qualifying matches, with 15 points, one point ahead of the United States and two points ahead of Mexico and Panama.
The top three finishers will qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the fourth-place finisher will face the winner of the Oceania Football Confederation in a single-match playoff in June.
Prior to the match against the United States in Hamilton, Canada will play Honduras on January 27 and El Salvador on February 2 to complete the qualifying window.
Bayern Munich are unsure when Davies will be able to return. Before the international break, the Bundesliga giants will play two games before returning to league action on February 5 against RB Leipzig. Bayern will return to the Champions League on February 16 when they travel to FC Salzburg.
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A viral infection causes myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The rare illness can cause heart damage and rapid cardiac arrest if left undiagnosed and untreated.
Davies is crucial to Canada’s bid for a berth in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which is awarded to the top three teams in Concacaf (fourth place goes to inter-confederation playoff). With head coach John Herdman’s club, the 21-year-old has 10 goals in 30 appearances.
Davies made his MLS debut for Vancouver in 2016 and secured the league’s second-most expensive outbound transfer, heading to Bayern Munich for up to $22 million in Winter 2019.
He’s now one of the top left-sided players in the world, capable of playing at outside back or in attack.
