Toronto FC awaiting word on Bradley’s return date
Toronto FC captain Steven Caldwell, like the rest of his teammates, realizes the team is much better with world-class midfielder Michael Bradley in the lineup.
Bradley’s availability for Saturday’s game against Dallas FC remains in doubt, so it’s up to Caldwell and a host of players who don’t receive the attention Bradley does to pick up the slack.
“He’s an absolutely outstanding player, he has been superb,” Caldwell said at Thursday’s training session as Toronto focused on rebounding from their 1-0 loss to Colorado last Saturday.
“We have to play different, we’re not as comfortable on the ball because (Bradley) gets the ball so well and starts the offence.”
In the daily updates surrounding Bradley this week, his teammates made it sound like he will return from his one-game absence when TFC meets Dallas, the No. 2 rated club in MLS’s power rankings. TFC dropped to eighth after that Colorado loss.
Coach Ryan Nelsen could only give the “wait and see” verdict with Bradley. He knows he won’t have Jermain Defoe, Alvaro Rey and Doniel Henry for Dallas. Dwayne de Rosario and Jeremy Hall both suffered leg injuries last weekend and won’t play in Dallas either.
“We’ll see (Friday),” Nelsen said about Bradley, who is nursing a knee injury but has been training progressively stronger in the later stages of his week. He will travel to Dallas).