World Cup: Bayern star Davies fit to start Round of 32 clash with South Africa

The speedy full-back had to watch all three of their groupstage games from the sidelines while nursing a hamstring injury.

Photo: Harry How/Getty Images.

Having to bide his time with injury during the group stages, Alphonso Davies is set for his first appearance at this World Cup in tonight's Round of 32 clash against South Africa.

“Now he's truly available. We have Alphonso back and healthy and ready to perform, I think it's a big moment for the team and a big boost for the team,” Canadian coach Jesse Marsch said during today's press conference.

"He's a big X factor for us. Being on the pitch, the belief they have in him, the belief he has in himself, I think changes the possibility of what the potential of our team is, and what we can do in this tournament"

"We were fairly certain early on that playing in the group phase was unlikely. For me to go tell our best player, and a guy that is a huge piece of everything that we do, that we have to wait, was painful.

“But we've done this in the best interests of Alphonso and his career and his health, so it's nice now that we can have a plan that leads to him being back on the pitch,” he concluded.

The Bayern Munich full-back underlined just how difficult it was to watch the action unfold from the bench – now he's excited to represent his nation while at the peak of his powers.

“Obviously, it was painful [to watch the first three games from the sidelines]. The only thing you want to do is play football. That’s what I’m really passionate about," Davies explained.

"The first game, watching it, I was eager to be on the pitch. Second game, even more so. The third game, I went to the coach before the game and asked him, ‘Do you think I can get a couple of minutes?’

“He could have said, ‘Yeah, we’ll just throw you in,’ but obviously he cares about me and the team as human beings as well, so he sat me down (…) and I thought about it, and I said, ‘He’s right.’ It was kind of hard to hear,” he added.