Giovinco remains mired in injury limbo
Reds’ star striker struggling with leg injury, uncertain for Saturday’s game in Vancouver
A hit that ruled Sebastian Giovinco out of half of Toronto FC’s weekend tie with the Philadelphia Union kept the striker from practising with his teammates Tuesday and could mean even more time on the bench for the Italian.
Reds coach Greg Vanney described Giovinco’s contusion as a charley horse that needed loosening up so the striker could get some mobility back in his upper right leg.
Vanney said Major League Soccer’s 2015 MVP was considered day-today on Tuesday and questionable for Saturday’s visit to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Toronto leaves for the West Coast on Thursday; following that game, TFC is off until its home opener March 31.
That break could play into whether or not Giovinco sees action this weekend, on BC Place’s turf field. Vanney wants the striker’s quadriceps fully healed before he sees playing time.
“At this early point in the season we’re not going to put him in a situation where he has less than full strength, especially going into a difficult field to play. We’ll keep an eye on him”
It’s been a difficult start to the season for the striker.
Instead of making headlines for the show-stopping goals he is known for, Giovinco’s biggest moments of this new season are a saved penalty against Real Salt Lake and the injury against the Union.
It’s an irritating situation for Giovinco, who is always keen to make an impact, says his coach.
“He wants to score goals, he wants to try to help the team win. I’m sure he was disappointed that he didn’t finish the penalty kick and in the last game it’s frustrating because he wasn’t in the full game to try to help the team get the results.
“I’m sure there’s some frustration on that level but that’s how seasons go.”
Giovinco’s not alone in that feeling. Toronto believes it could have won both of its games thus far this season despite having just two points after two weeks.
It’s an unusual feeling for a team who got used to winning last season.
“Patience is going to be an important thing for all of our guys,” Vanney said.
“We want it to look like it was at the end of the year, we want it to look exactly that but we’re just not quite there yet as a group. We will get there because it’s just a part of the season.”
As for the offence, Vanney believes his players need to take better care of the ball and push more numbers forward to pull defenders away from Giovinco.
“Sometimes he needs to be more patient, sometimes as a group we need to be more patient and opportunities will come. I think we’re forcing too many opportunities and not getting anything out of it and the net result is defending more.”