Canada star Tajon Buchanan suffers broken leg in training

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.

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.”

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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