TORONTO—After patiently waiting for his chance, Jordan Hamilton is rightfully earning his playing time and current role as a starter for Toronto FC.
But for how much longer will the Canadian forward continue to get the nod and play alongside Sebastian Giovinco in attack now that Jozy Altidore has returned from injury and is looking to regain his starting job? It’s one of the more interesting and pertinent questions surrounding TFC, who host the Columbus Crew on Sunday evening at BMO Field.
Altidore, 26, played 18 minutes as a substitute in last week’s 4-1 win over D.C. United in his first appearance for the Reds since mid-May when he suffered a hamstring injury. The American international and designated player is slowly working his way back into the team after a lengthy layoff, with coach Greg Vanney saying it’s more likely that he’ll start one of TFC’s next three games than go a full 90 minutes in one of them.
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“It’s like he’s going through a pre-season again in some ways. We want to build him up properly both for him and us, and this is a long-term thing,” Vanney told reporters after Saturday’s practice.
Hamilton, 20, has made the most of the opportunity presented to him while Altidore was on the sidelines. Signed to the senior team in 2014, the young Canadian only made three MLS appearances (totalling a meagre 14 minutes) over the past two seasons, but he has started the last seven games—and he hasn’t looked at all out of place doing it—scoring three goals and collecting an assist in eight appearances overall.
The natural question arises, then, should Altidore start ahead of Hamilton in TFC’s two-forward system when he’s fully match-fit?
“Jozy is a better player at this moment in time, in terms of capabilities to do multiple things. Jordan is still a player who is learning and progressing, but if Jozy finds his form and he is moving about the field then he makes us more dangerous. He takes attention away from Seba, he makes other people dangerous,” Vanney explained.
While leaving no doubt as to whether Altidore would displace Hamilton if he finds his old form, Vanney made it clear that the veteran forward will have to earn his starting job again—that he won’t try to shoehorn him into the line-up just because he’s a high-priced DP.
“I’m not [taking] away the position from Jordan; it is Jozy’s job to get back and be full strength and be flowing. If he does that, then he makes us a slightly better team in general just with everything he brings to the table,” Vanney offered.
Vanney later added: “Jozy will have to earn [a starting spot] with the small amount of minutes he gets, and his training while working his way back to full match fitness.”
There’s no denying that Hamilton wouldn’t have been given the chance to start if not for Altidore’s prolonged absence. But as Vanney said, the young Canadian is “earning his minutes.” Hamilton’s overall game has matured this season; he more composed and less panicky on the ball. He’s also playing with much more confidence and intelligence—this after toiling in the club’s developmental system the past two years.
Hamilton credits “being a workhorse on the field” for his recent (relative) success.
“For a guy like me, you can never stop running. Basically, just being a menace to the opposing defenders, and always challenging them—I think I’m doing that really well,” Hamilton told Sportsnet.
He also maintains he’s not peering over his shoulder for Altidore, and that the veteran has helped him along the way this season.
“Jozy is a great player and an important piece for our team. We’re very excited to have him back,” Hamilton said. “He really cares about my success and he’s very happy for me now. But I have to keep it up.”
Altidore was not made available to speak to reporters after Saturday’s practice.
NOTES: Midfielder Benoit Cheyrou is questionable for Sunday due to a lower body injury. Vanney said the Frenchman will be a game-day decision. If Cheyrou can’t play, Vanney indicated he might employ a five-defender formation… Columbus (3-7-10) sits ninth in the Eastern Conference, eight points and four places behind Toronto (7-7-6)… TFC is 5-12-10 all-time against Columbus in MLS action. This is the third and final meeting between the clubs this season, with the previous contests ending in draws, including a 1-1 stalemate on July 13 in Columbus… Sunday’s game is the second in a run of four straight home matches for the Reds, who will also host Real Salt Lake (Aug. 3) and New England (Aug. 6).
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