Jonathan Osorio has been one of the few bright spots in what is turning out to be another dismal MLS campaign for Toronto FC.
But a prolonged absence because of international duty with Canada could result in Osorio losing his starting role with the MLS club.
TFC squandered a two-goal lead Wednesday night and had to settle for a 3-3 draw against the visiting Montreal Impact, a result that extended the Reds’ winless run at BMO Field to 15 league matches – its last win at its home stadium came on July 18, 2012.
Sporting an anaemic 2-8-7 record at the mid-point of the regular season, it would appear Toronto’s playoff drought is set to extend to seven consecutive years.
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Through it all, though, Osorio has proven to be a revelation, impressing with his dynamic and bright play in midfield. He’s also contributed offensively with three goals in MLS, good enough to rank him as the club’s second leading scorer.
Osorio, a 21-year-old native of Toronto, was invited to participate in TFC’s pre-season camp in February and impressed team officials so much that he was signed to a contract. The next month, Osorio made his professional debut, and has since established himself as a key starter in coach Ryan Nelsen’s side.
Another milestone followed in May when he made his debut for Canada’s national team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a friendly against Costa Rica in Edmonton. He continued to star for the Reds in MLS, leading Canadian coach Colin Miller to name the TFC rookie to his 23-man roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which runs from July 7-28.
Osorio missed the Montreal game while away at Canada’s training camp, and will be absent for at least one more game because of international duty. It could be as many as four matches if Canada progresses to the Gold Cup final.
It may not sound like a long time, but a few weeks is an eternity in pro sports, and it’s long enough for someone else to fill in for him and convince Nelsen he has other options – a fact not lost on Osorio.
“It does (weigh on my mind) but I try not to think about it too much,” Osorio admitted. “It happens in football all the time — people go away on international break or get hurt, and other players step up.
“When I come back if there’s someone in my spot, I’ll just keep working 100 per cent to get it back.”
It might sound far-fetched that a youngster as talented and promising as Osorio could lose his starting place with TFC. But it’s not. If anything, Nelsen has shown during his brief tenure as manager that he goes with whoever is on form, and that if you’re out of sight, you’re also out of mind, and very soon out of favour. Just go ask Danny Califf and Terry Dunfield.
Nelsen has also stressed the desire to create increased competition for starting places, which could lead Osorio out in the cold by the time he returns from playing for Canada at the Gold Cup.
“In the very short-term future, we want to have two potential starters for every single position. It’s going to be murderous to pick a team,” Nelsen explained.
“That’s what we’re trying to get, to elevate the whole squad. Not just the tarrying 11, but the whole squad.”
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The Canadian team is currently training in California ahead of the Gold Cup, where it will play Martinique in Pasadena on July 7. It then faces off against Mexico in Seattle (July 11) and Panama in Denver (July 14).
Miller said Osorio has “looked sharp in training” thus far, but the Canadian coach also explained that the TFC midfielder and the seven other youngsters on the squad will have to earn their way onto the field. He insists that playing time just won’t be handed to them, even though Canada is in rebuilding mode and looking to give the team’s crop of up-and-coming prospects valuable international experience.
“We have to see how they’re doing, how they’re responding to the senior guys in training,” Miller stated.
“There’s an assessment being made every day in training to see how the young guys are handling this environment. They’re coming from their own club environment where they’re fairly comfortable, now they’re coming into a national team environment where it’s a step higher.”
Osorio, though, is confident he’ll be able to make an impression on Miller.
“I’m pretty confident (I’ll get playing time),” Osorio offered. “I’ve only been with (Miller) for one camp, but I know he’s been watching me all the time …and I hope he’s been impressed.”
