TFC winger Pablo Piatti sidelined by strained hamstring

pablo-piatti-holds-up-toronto-fc-jersey

Argentine winger Pablo Piatti, Toronto FC's new designated player, holds up his jersey at the team's training facility on Friday, Feb.7, 2020. (Shane Wright/Toronto FC/CP)

CARSON, Calif. – Argentine winger Pablo Piatti, Toronto FC’s new designated player, will miss the start of the MLS regular season with a strained hamstring.

A club spokesman said the 30-year-old Piatti suffered the injury at training camp in Irvine, Calif. He has since returned to Toronto where an MRI showed the hamstring strain.

There was no immediate timetable for his return, with the spokesman saying the early prognosis was Piatti would be out a few weeks.

The Argentine has played just seven games since undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery last February while with Spain’s Espanyol. He has not seen action in Toronto’s pre-season schedule, which wrapped up Saturday with a weather-affected game against the Colorado Rapids.

The game at Dignity Health Sports Park was called at 1-1 at halftime due to inclement weather.

A hailstorm forced a temporary halt to the game in the 13th minute. There was another weather delay at halftime, this time because of lightning, which eventually prompted officials to call the game.

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