Toronto FC hopeful Altidore will play

Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney said on Friday that star forward Jozy Altidore is “questionable” for Saturday’s playoff match at BMO Field against D.C. United.

But if the decision was Altidore’s, it’s a no-brainer.

“I start the game, if it was up to me. No problem,” said Altidore. “(But) we’ll see. I feel better.”

The 29-year-old striker suffered a quad strain in the final regular-season game of the year on Oct. 6 against the Columbus Crew. The American international was forced out of the U.S.-Canada showdown last Tuesday at BMO Field.

Altidore has been unable to train with the Reds the past couple of weeks as they prepared for the opening-round playoff match against Wayne Rooney and the Black and Red under the lights on Saturday, but he was on the field doing limited work on Friday. The key for Vanney is finding a balance in which Altidore could help the team without aggravating the injury and risk sidelining him for a potential Eastern Conference semifinal next Wednesday against NYCFC.

Vanney also understands Altidore is going to push hard to be in the game no matter how he feels.

“These decisions are always tough because the games are so important,” Vanney said. “But there are some key fundamental principles by which we would put a guy on the field or not put a guy on the field. So we’ll stick with those as much as we can.

“All of these decisions are a collaborative process between the doctors, between the player, our training staff, myself ... everybody is involved,” added the coach. “This is not an isolated choice for anyone in this.”

Altidore was all smiles following training on Friday. There was a clear sense he will play if it is at all possible.

“Look, I’ve been here a long time now, the coaches know me, they know I will play with whatever (pain or discomfort),” Altidore said. “As a player, when you come across certain clubs, certain moments in your career, you want to give back everything. The club’s given me everything and, regardless of injuries, if I can, if I’m able to be out there, I want to help and give everything I can.

“I have to let myself heal but, at the same time, I’m at the point, obviously, where I’m training, and if the team needs me, if the coach (asks), I’m ready.”

Vanney said Altidore did some work with the ball and some running on Friday and will undergo another fitness test early on Saturday before a final decision is made.

“Varying sort of his high-speed running, trying to increase the amount of speed he’s putting in, varying the distances in terms of ball striking, things like that — just trying to functionally get to things he would encounter in the game,” Vanney said. “Not a ton of playing in any of that.”

As for D.C. United, they have been preparing with the understanding that Altidore, who scored 11 goals in 22 games for TFC this season along with seven assists, will play.

sbuffery@postmedia.com