Davies to miss Canada's upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to myocarditis

Alphonso Davies won't be available for Canada's upcoming World Cup qualifiers after being diagnosed with mild myocarditis, Canada Soccer announced Friday.

Bayern Munich's medical staff discovered signs of heart inflammation during a follow-up exam after Davies' bout with COVID-19.

The diagnosis has forced Davies to stop training indefinitely, leaving Canada head coach John Herdman without his star player ahead of three crucial World Cup qualifying matches.

Davies is set to miss games against Honduras, the United States, and El Salvador during a World Cup qualifying period that runs from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2.

Canada leads the CONCACAF qualifying group with six matches remaining, but Davies' absence will undoubtedly dent the country's hopes of qualifying for its first World Cup since 1986.

Bayern Munich must also find a way to cope without their left-back as the Bundesliga leaders work their way back from a COVID-19 outbreak that ravaged Julian Nagelsmann's squad.

"With Phonzy, when we did our follow-up examination yesterday that we do with (every) player that has had COVID-19, we detected signs of mild myocarditis, i.e. an inflammation of the heart muscle," Nagelsmann said Friday.

He added: "He'll sit out training until further notice. He won't be available also in the coming weeks. The ultrasound shows this myocarditis isn't so dramatic, but it's a sign of myocarditis. Still, it has to heal and that will definitely take some time."

Davies has been out of action for Bayern since testing positive for the coronavirus earlier in January.

Meanwhile, six Bayern Munich players returned to training after recovering from COVID-19: Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Omar Richards, Leroy Sane, and Tanguy Nianzou.