Buchanan returns, Gilles missing from latest Canadian roster

Chelsea centre back Kadeisha Buchanan is back on the Canadian squad for next month's friendlies vs. Argentina and Morocco.

Buchanan returns, Gilles missing from latest Canadian roster

The Canadian women's team will only have one half of its formidable centre back pairing in place for next month's pair of international friendlies.

Coach Bev Priestman revealed her 25-player roster on Wednesday, which included Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan, who missed Canada's two exhibition games against Australia earlier this month through injury.

But Buchanan's defensive partner Vanessa Gilles wasn't called up, as she is still dealing with a hip injury. Gilles was also ruled out of the Australia matches, and last played for Canada in July at the Concacaf W Championship staged in Mexico. Gilles recently joined French league champions Olympique Lyon on loan from the NWSL's Angel City FC.

Canada Soccer announced last week that the reigning Olympic champions will face Argentina on Oct. 6 and Morocco on Oct. 10, with both games taking place at Estadio Municipal de Chapín in Jerez, Spain. Canada is No. 7 in the current FIFA world rankings. Argentina is 31st and Morocco is 76th, and both nations have qualified for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.