Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore expected to miss four to five weeks with hamstring strain

Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and will be out four to five weeks.

That was the update Friday from Toronto coach Greg Vanney, who watched his star forward limp off in the 53rd minute last Saturday after grabbing the back of his left thigh as he went for a ball in TFC’s 2-1 win over Philadelphia.

That recovery time basically takes Altidore to the end of the regular season, which Toronto wraps up Nov. 8 against the New York Red Bulls.

Fullback Justin  Morrow, who also left the Philadelphia game early, has a Grade 1 calf strain.

“It’s not too bad. Kind of day-to-day,” said Vanney,

Morrow might be ready “in some version” next week but Vanney said the team wasn’t going to risk anyone.

“We want to get guys healthy. We don’t want to rush guys back,” he said. “At the same time we want to get points but we also want to be healthy as we get down the stretch (run) here. Because these little series of games, five in 16 days, are gruelling and we don’t want to risk players along the way. So we’re trying to be smart about that.”

On the plus side, captain Michael Bradley returned to training Friday. The veteran midfielder has missed the last seven games since suffering a knee strain Sept. 1 against Montreal.

“He’s close to getting back into game form or ready to play,” Vanney said. “He’s obviously a diligent worker and fitness-wise he’s ready. So now it’s crossing some last hurdles to be ready to really compete and do all that. He’s right there, he’s close.”

Brazilian fullback Auro saw 35 minutes of action off the bench Wednesday in Toronto’s 1-0 win at New England. He had missed the previous four games with an ankle bone bruise

League-leading Toronto (10-2-4) plays at FC Cincinnati (3-9-4) on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct 9, 2020

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press