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The Bayern Munich defender is available for selection as Canada prepares for its first-ever men's World Cup knockout match, but his exact role remains unclear. Despite training with the squad and speaking to the media, there is still no confirmation over whether he will start or feature from the bench.

A key figure in Davies' recovery has been German performance specialist Matthias Blankenburg, who has worked closely with the Canadian star throughout the tournament. Blankenburg was brought in following discussions between Davies, Canada Soccer, and Bayern Munich to oversee his rehabilitation and help ensure a safe return to competitive action.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has fully supported the arrangement, explaining that elite athletes require personalized care to avoid unnecessary risks. He compared managing top players to maintaining high-performance sports cars, stressing the importance of meeting every physical benchmark before returning to full competition.

The uncertainty surrounding Davies has also been fueled by Marsch's public comments. The coach previously suggested the defender would feature during the group stage, but later admitted those statements were part of a strategy designed to keep opponents guessing while Davies continued his recovery.

Despite the speculation, Davies has remained focused on helping his team. He acknowledged the pressure of representing a host nation but said his attention has been on preparing for the challenges of knockout football.

Canada now faces South Africa with hopes of extending its remarkable World Cup campaign. Whether Davies starts, comes on as a substitute, or waits for another opportunity, his condition remains one of the tournament's biggest storylines as Canada chases a place in the next round.