Johnson, Nocerino skipping road trip

TORONTO — Orlando City coach repeatedly said there would be rotation in the lineup this week. He even said, “Possibly a lot.”

He brought 20 players on the road for back-to-back trips to Toronto and Houston, and he lamented the lack of recovery and preparation time between the team’s three games in eight days.

Still, many were surprised when Orlando City released its lineup ahead of its match against Toronto FC Wednesday night at BMO Field.

and were nowhere to be found. Not only were the two typical starters not in the lineup, they weren’t even in the 18-man game-day roster.

Johnson’s return to his former team after griping about the way he was treated by Toronto staff last year was a main storyline leading up to the game. That return will not happen due to illness, according to a spokesman for Orlando City. Nocerino’s exclusion was a “coach’s decision.”

Not only are Johnson and Nocerino veteran players considered leaders on the team, they are two of the highest paid Lions as well. No one on the team but Kaká earns more than Nocerino’s guaranteed 2017 salary of $850,000 and Johnson comes in at fifth-highest paid with $450,000.

started in place of Johnson. Gil, who Orlando City signed on loan at the beginning of April, has recorded just 55 minutes in four appearances for the Lions so far. The Toronto match was his first start.

took the field where Nocerino typically plays, and and newly signed defender made the 18 as substitutes.