TORONTO – It was a “good news, bad news” kind of day at Toronto FC practice on Thursday.
Still dealing with a lingering calf injury that has sidelined him for just over a month, veteran defender Steven Caldwell has been ruled out of Toronto FC’s road game versus FC Dallas on Saturday. Rookie centre back Clement Simonin is also unavailable due to swelling in his knee.
Coach Greg Vanney confirmed that Caldwell had a scan on the calf earlier this week and he is progressing, but he still isn’t fit for this weekend. Vanney said he plans to involve the Scottish defender back into training next week and hopes he might be available to play for the Reds on April 26 away to Orlando City.
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Some more bad news for Toronto: Defender Mark Bloom, who has been sidelined this season due to a calf issue, left practice early on Thursday because his calf was bothering him. Vanney said Bloom will undergo further evaluation later in the day before he decides whether the right fullback will travel to Texas. For the moment, Bloom is questionable.
Caldwell, 34, came out at halftime of TFC’s loss away to the Columbus Crew on March 14. Despite Toronto enjoying two bye weeks since then, Caldwell, who missed 13 games last season (11 through injury), has been slow to recover. But there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, according to Vanney.
Some more good news: Centre backs Damien Perquis (calf) and Eriq Zavaleta (ankle) are both fit and will be available for selection on Saturday after sitting out the Reds’ last two games.
The absence of Caldwell and Simonin, plus the potential loss of Bloom, are big blows for Vanney who, not for the first time this season, will be forced to deploy a makeshift back four against Dallas.
Right back Warren Creavalle is suspended for Saturday’s match, and if Bloom can’t play, Vanney will have to figure out another plan for the right side of the defence, possibly Brazilian winger Jackson. If Vanney plays Nick Hagglund at right fullback, he’ll likely go with Perquis and Zavaleta in the middle.
TFC’s coach also didn’t rule out using a left-sided player on the right side of defence. Left fullback Justin Morrow would be a leading candidate. Morrow might also slot into the middle, like he did in Toronto’s last match, a 3-2 loss away to the Chicago Fire on April 4.
“If that’s something I’m pressed into (doing), I’m comfortable (with it). I’ve played there before,” Morrow stated.
Toronto has yet to register a clean sheet, conceding eight goals in its first four games of the MLS campaign.
Vanney has bemoaned the number of defensive lapses and miscues from his back line during the team’s current three-game losing streak. He explained the team has been working on that the last two weeks in practice, and has stressed to his players that they need to be collectively and individually more stable when defending.
“Some of our mistakes are (a result of) guys feeling uncomfortable when they should be comfortable. They panic a little bit and make decisions that they normally wouldn’t make and they know better than them. They’re a little uneasy,” Vanney said.
“It’s just making sure that their roles are clear and what we’re trying to do, and that their responsibility within a given situation is clear so they can find comfort in that and just be the players they are.”
Morrow downplayed the lack of a consistent starting back four, caused by injuries, as the reason why the team has struggled on the defensive end.
“There’s no doubt that that’s a concern, changing our lineup every single game. But this is MLS—it’s a long season and every team will go through it at some point, so it’s something we’re dealing with right now,” Morrow stated.
Morrow believes the team’s “overall defending” needs to improve.
“Sometimes we put ourselves into individual situations that can be solved by teammates helping each other out. If we collectively defend as a team better then we’ll do well,” Morrow offered.
