Canadian ‘keeper McLeod has bone bruise, should be ready for Olympic qualifier

TORONTO – Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod has a bone bruise but should be ready for the women’s Olympic soccer qualifying tournament in Texas in February.

McLeod had to leave the Dec. 20 final of an international tournament in Brazil after falling awkwardly on her right leg in a collision with Brazilian star Marta.

Canadian coach John Herdman said Tuesday that McLeod is listed as week to week but is scheduled to be ready for the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Houston.

McLeod, a key member of the national team, has won 112 caps for Canada.

Canadian team officials dodged a bullet when captain and talisman Christine Sinclair was injured in August, playing for the Portland Thorns late in the NWSL season. It turned out to be a left ankle and Achilles tendon strain and the 32-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., returned to play in the Brazil tournament.

The Canadian women lost 3-1 to Brazil in the final.

McLeod, a 32-year-old from Alberta who has already come back from two knee surgeries, was celebrating something else Tuesday than her expected return to health. She took to Twitter to congratulate her spouse Ella Masar McLeod, an American, for earning Canadian citizenship.

“One of the proudest moments of my life- — watching my wife become a Canuck,” she tweeted above a picture of the two holding a citizenship certificate.