After being limited to 14 games in 2021 and none after the middle of August, forward Mason Toye could miss the start of the season for CF Montreal due to an adductor injury suffered in recent days.
Updated yesterday at 6:27 p.m.
That’s what head coach Wilfried Nancy said following his team’s 2-2 draw against New York City FC in Montreal’s first of four preseason games for the the 2022 season, Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Florida.
Invited to present an update on Toye by videoconference on Saturday afternoon, Nancy hesitantly delivered more or less precise information.
In short, the picture is not clear.
“I want to say that there is still good news. […] Will there be an operation or not? We’re not heading towards that, but we’re heading towards something different and the player is confident with that. In terms of the period of absence, for the moment, once again it is still early, it is certain that over the next four to six weeks, he will not be there, ”Nancy first mentioned.
A little later, the head coach of CF Montreal remarked that there are decisions to be made, that the situation could evolve and that the organization wants to be a little more specific about Toye next week.
In 2021, Toye, a 23-year-old American, scored seven goals, one shy of team leader Romell Quioto, who played five more games.
A shoulder injury in a game played on August 14 against the New York Red Bulls at Saputo Stadium kept him sidelined for the rest of the season.
Should Toye be out of action for four weeks, his absence from both Concacaf Champions League games against Mexican outfit Santos Laguna on February 15 and 22 would become virtually certain.
In MLS, CF Montreal will begin its season on Sunday, February 27 against Orlando City SC, in Florida.
During her videoconference, Nancy also spoke about the injury suffered by Samuel Piette during the match of the Concacaf qualifying tournament last Thursday in Honduras.
“I want to say that it is less serious than in the image. […] I also want to say that fortunately he was not playing on a ‘turf’, because it could have remained blocked. So it’s less serious than expected, but he’s in pain, ”Nancy first mentioned.
“Now they are doing a good job with the national team, so it’s taking its course, hoping he can continue to play for the team and stay with them. It’s really “day to day”. »
As for Saturday’s preseason game, CF Montreal erased a two-goal deficit thanks to goals from Joaquin Torres and Sunusi Ibrahim in the second half.
“There were some great things and things to improve. I liked that the players did not let go which allowed us to score the equalizing goal in the last minutes of the match, ”analyzed Nancy.
“We were in difficulty playing against the wind in the first half, but we were able to find solutions in the second half. Collectively we were in line with the last training sessions. I wanted to mix the team today with more experienced players and younger players, while finding player associations. The idea was to have a balanced team in terms of player profiles and playing time, ”he also said.
CF Montreal will make its next outing on February 4 against Inter Miami CF.