Toronto FC will again be short five starters due to injury on Sunday against the New York Red Bulls. But there is good news on the horizon for the TFC faithful -- the days of the Reds looking more like the Red Cross might be coming to an end.
"There's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel," said Toronto coach Mo Johnston. "They've improving every day. I'm not saying they're 100 percent back for next week, but they're improving."
Any news is good news on the health front for a Toronto club that is desperately hoping to be fit enough to make a playoff push in its first Major League Soccer season. Here is a quick update on the status of TFC's injured stars.
• Andrew Boyens (concussion, broken nose): The defender trained with the team on Thursday but will likely miss his second consecutive game on Sunday. After TFC lost goalkeeper Greg Sutton for the season due to concussion-related issues, the club is keeping a close eye on Boyens to make sure the 23-year-old doesn't suffer similar after-effects.
• Marvell Wynne (pulled hamstring): Johnston cited Wynne, Danny Dichio and Jeff Cunningham as three stars who may be able to play on August 18 when Toronto FC plays host to Chivas USA at BMO Field. Wynne has missed the last two games since pulling his hamstring during Toronto's friendly with Aston Villa on July 25.
• Jim Brennan (fractured ribs): TFC's co-captain overcame his injury and played the entirety of last Sunday's scoreless draw with Los Angeles. Brennan, who has played all 1710 minutes in team history, will continue his ironman streak against New York, and counts himself lucky that his injury was less limiting than some of his teammates'.
"They're still sore, but I've been playing with them and training with them, so they're fine." Brennan said. "It's just what you can handle and what you can play with. Guys that have pulled hamstrings and thighs it's a different story, whereas in my situation it's very painful, but it was also my decision to play with them."
• Ronnie O'Brien (torn meniscus): The midfielder had already missed time earlier this season with torn ligaments in his right knee before re-injuring the same knee in the Aston Villa game. Johnston said O'Brien is expected to miss another month.
• Danny Dichio (hip flexor, sore back): Dichio missed Sunday's game against the Galaxy and played just 131 minutes in Toronto's previous three games as the veteran forward has been struggling through a number of aches and pains. The time off may be a blessing in disguise for Dichio. Johnston has said that he would like more of a chance to rest the star forward, whose MLS campaign has come on the heels of playing 30 games with Preston North End of the Coca-Cola Championship in England.
Johnston said last Sunday that Dichio nearly saw action against the Galaxy. Striker Andrea Lombardo was cleared to play after needing three stitches on his foot after tripping on his steps at home, but Dichio had offered to take a cortisone shot and grit it out against L.A. if his team needed him.
• Jeff Cunningham (abdominal injury, hernia): Though Johnston said Cunningham may be a possibility against Chivas, the striker said he just hopes to be able to train, and further decisions will have to be made from there.
Since first suffering his injury on July 4 against Real Salt Lake, Cunningham has barely seen the field. He played just seven minutes against Columbus on July 22 before having to be substituted.
"You never play 100 percent fit, and I felt like this was one of those injuries that I could play through," Cunningham said. "Obviously the Columbus game proved it was something more serious. I'm taking it each day and trying to be positive ... and I hope my season isn't over."
The exact nature of Cunningham's injury took a while to be determined. He was originally listed as suffering from a pulled abdominal muscle, then an injured adductor. Since seeing a specialist in Montreal, Cunningham said the latest diagnosis is a growing hernia that will require surgery in the offseason.
As a result, Cunningham has been able to do little more than basic exercises and limited running drills during Toronto's training. MLS's fourth all-time leading goal scorer is clearly aching to put his injury woes behind him.
"I've never had an injury that's kept me out this long before," Cunningham said. "[I've had] hamstring tweaks and other strains, but never this long. Something I pride myself on is taking care of my body and I've been durable throughout my career. It's very frustrating for me. I don't know what's going on in my body with the injury or when I'll be able to be back on the pitch."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
