TORONTO - Canadian star midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, contradicting his club coach, says he hopes to take part in this summer's Gold Cup.
"I 100 per cent want to play for Canada," De Rosario was quoted on the MLS website. "I would definitely like to play for my country this summer."
Red Bulls coach Hans Backe told the New York Post his understanding was De Rosario had turned down the national team invite.
"I would be very surprised if he went for the national team," Backe said. "You never know but I'm fairly sure we will have him."
Backe's comment came as news to Canadian national team coach Stephen Hart.
"As far as I know, Dwayne was keen to play at the Gold Cup," he told a media conference call earlier Tuesday.
"It could just be the (New York) coaching staff throwing something out there," he added.
Backe's comments would seem to pile pressure on his playmaker.
"Obviously there is a concern, and this comes down to club versus country," De Rosario was quoted on the league website.
"This summer's Gold Cup is an important one for Canada, but it is also an important time here for me at New York," he added.
The 32-year-old attacking midfielder has won 56 caps for Canada but has only played three times since the end of the last World Cup qualifying campaign in October 2008.
Canada gears up for the Gold Cup with a Toronto friendly against Ecuador on June 1.
The Canadian men open the CONCACAF championship June 7 against the U.S. in Detroit before facing Guadeloupe in Tampa on June 11 and Panama in Kansas City on June 14.
Hart acknowledged that this Gold Cup is different than others in that Canada will be starting its 2014 World Cup qualifying this September, meaning his players will get almost no break over the summer.
"We have to be very careful in how we utilize players," he said. "Luckily we've created some sort of depth in the squad."
"We've got to use it (the Gold Cup) wisely," he added.
The actually qualifying process for North and Central America and the Caribbean will start in June with five two-legged series featuring the 10 lowest-ranked teams in the region.
The five winners will join Canada and the next highest 18 teams from the March 2011 FIFA rankings in six four-team groups set to play from September to November.
The six group winners will then join the six top CONCACAF teams from the March FIFA rankings -- the U.S., Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba -- in a three-group semifinal round.
The top two teams from each of those groups will advance to the final round group. The top three teams from that round book their ticket to the World Cup while the fourth-placed team will take part in a playoff with a country from another confederation for a final World Cup berth.
Canada was ranked 84th in the world and eighth in CONCACAF in March. It is currently ranked 75th and seventh in CONCACAF.
"My irritation is why make the announcement in April and then use the rankings from before you make the announcement," Hart said. "You should at least give teams the opportunity to get into the top six and then make the decision from there.
"To me it's not the way it should have been done. But it's not in my control. I know what we need to do and we're just going to get on with that."
As for Canadian Simeon Jackson's recent rise with Norwich City, Hart said: "I think the biggest difference with him and Norwich is the fact he's getting to play. And he's been given a good run consistently and with strikers that's what you need."
Jackson's diving header Monday gave Norwich a 1-0 win over Portsmouth and guaranteed the Canaries' promotion to the Premier League. The 24-year-old striker has 13 goals in 19 league games this season.
Hart says the Blackburn striker David (Junior) Hoilett has yet to make his decision on his international future. The 20-year-old native of Brampton, Ont., who could also play for Jamaica, has four goals in 14 league games this season.
"He has contractual situations to deal with," said Hart. "I don't think we'll see him at the Gold Cup. But he still hasn't said no to me, let's put it that way"
Hoilett's current deal with Blackburn ends the summer of 2012.
"Everybody keeps asking the same question," Hart said on the ongoing Hoilett saga. "There will be a point to move on, of course, when we get towards the World Cup qualification but until that point I'll keep working at it."
Asked if he had a message to fans about the Toronto friendly, Hart urged them to show their support.
"The crowd makes a huge impact on how a team performs. If there are lot of people out there that do support Canada, that want to see Canada in a World Cup, want to see Canada do well, they've got to come out and show that sort of 12th man spirit and help us through it.
"Those players are wearing the Canada shirt with pride. They've sacrificed a lot to play for Canada and they don't ask much."
NOTES: Hart says it is just a matter of time before goal-line technology comes into play in the sport. "It's not that difficult. I think there's enough pressure and outcry for them to move ahead with it." ... Hart says veteran fullback Paul Stalteri continues to train with the Borussia Moenchengladbach reserves. "He feels better than he's ever felt before because he's been given time to recuperate. Again, he's another one that has decisions to make as to what's happening in his future."
