John Herdman hopes for Matty Longstaff’s Toronto FC debut on Saturday, admits Richie Laryea’s injury is ‘frustrating’
John Herdman
Last weekend, Toronto FC won a number of significant games. The real three points during the New England Revolution were, of course, the main one for John Herdman and Co.
Although Lorenzo Insigne’s fakeout celebration may have given the impression that he was celebrating, everyone survived the game on Gillette Stadium’s new turf with little to no injuries, which was another significant win for John Herdman. Almost completely unharmed, anyway.
“After TFC training on Friday, a lot of the lads got beat up on that turf in New England with some aches and sores,” Herdman said to reporters. Guys older than thirty do not do well on grass! Right now, everything is preventive.
seasoned center back Among those old-timers, Shane O’Neill acknowledged to reporters on Friday that the New England field was “tough on the body.” He described the ground as unlike anything he had ever played on, a touch longer than typical turf.
Herdman has therefore been doing a type of load management in training this week in advance of TFC’s home opener against Charlotte on Saturday. This is done to make sure that players aren’t overworked or made to run excessively following a demanding and frequently exhausting day in Foxborough last weekend.
Richie Laryea is one player who hasn’t been visible to the media during the training sessions this week.
As a precaution, the Canadian did not play in Massachusetts while the team assesses the severity of his thigh ailment. At the very least, he missed training this week on Wednesday and Friday. On Friday, John Herdman told reporters that his ongoing issue is getting to be “frustrating.”
Herdman described it as “a frustrating one because he just hasn’t been able to shake it.” “He feels it again right before exercising. I don’t want to place him in any circumstances that could endanger him. The head coach didn’t provide much information about how much of his former CanMNT right-back could be able to contribute on Saturday.
Matty Longstaff, a former Newcastle United midfielder who recently joined the Reds, was one player about whom he was more certain.
Herdman stated, “He’s on the bench [on Saturday].” “And Matty will have space if the game develops as I hope it will toward the finish.”
But following a protracted and difficult recovery from an ACL injury sustained on Boxing Day 2022, the head coach is advising caution regarding Longstaff’s readiness.
“I want to get him moving again and give him more minutes at TFC II.” Please give him more minutes, please. We’ll try to get him minutes in TFC II if the game doesn’t offer me what I want to get him his debut this weekend.
Longstaff likely will not be the only first-teamer who is given some fitness-building time with TFC II in the coming days.
“You’ll see a group of [senior] players down with TFC II playing with York United this weekend to play minutes and get ready for the game against Atlanta, when we have players on international duty,” revealed Herdman. “We’re getting ready for the May madness.”
Meanwhile, striker Deandre Kerr is out again with a hamstring issue but “in the last stages” of his recovery. He returned to training this week but Prince Owusu is likely to start in between Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi again.
The diamond in TFC’s crown has already demonstrated that, with Herdman’s meticulous and methodical management of his minutes, he can shine brilliantly once more. Insigne, who was named the MLS Goal of the Matchday, played 45 minutes and did the killing with his magnificent winning goal.
The good news is that Insigne is healthy to travel despite Herdman’s admission that the Italian experienced some tightness this week off the field, following his abbreviated performance that won the match last week. “This game, he will be managed again.”
Speaking via an interpreter on Friday, Considering Herdman’s said he’s feeling much better physically than last year, when he missed 14 of TFC’s 38 MLS games through various injury problems.
Insigne told reporters, “I had a lot of injuries last year, but I’m better.” “I’ve been focusing a lot on my strengths and have adjusted my work approach. My life is fairly typical. I ate really well and went to bed early. Even though I’m older now, I’m going to look after myself better by training hard and collaborating with my team to attempt to stay in shape throughout the season.
Considering Herdman’s prior dedication to putting the DP on the field for as many home games as possible, the DP will undoubtedly start again on Saturday. We’ve seen what he can achieve, even if he only has 45 minutes left in the tank.
TFC’s home opener against Charlotte kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Read more news on:sportupdates.co.uk
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