Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, who has had not played since a 0-0 tie at Nashville on April 8, looks set to miss his fourth straight outing. Bradley (4) salutes the crowd after MLS soccer action against Charlotte FC in Toronto, on Saturday, April 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, who has not played since a 0-0 tie at Nashville on April 8, looks set to miss his fourth straight outing.
The 35-year-old midfielder was listed as questionable ahead of last weekend’s 1-0 win over New York City FC but did not dress. Coach Bob Bradley, Michael’s father, had said he hoped the skipper might be ready for this weekend’s visit by the New England Revolution.
Bradley did not participate in the portion of training open to media Thursday and, later in the day, the club listed him as out in its injury report ahead of Saturday’s MLS game.
Bradley played every minute of Toronto’s first seven games this season and had started TFC’s last 42 league games prior to sitting out the 2-2 tie with Atlanta on April 15 at BMO Field. At the time, Bob Bradley said Michael Bradley had felt something in his lower leg prior to the match.
Michael Bradley has made 298 appearances for TFC in all competitions, second only to Jonathan Osorio’s 326.
Osorio is also sidelined, straining his medial collateral ligament in training last week. The 30-year-old had captained TFC in Bradley’s absence, with Italian star Lorenzo Insigne wearing the captain’s armband last weekend with both Bradley and Osorio unavailable.
Veteran midfielder Victor Vazquez (foot) and forward Jordan Perruzza (lower body) are also listed as out for this weekend. Bob Bradley said last week that the 36-year-old Vazquez had flown to his native Spain to see a specialist.
Fullbacks Raoul Petretta (lower body) and Cristian Gutierrez (non-COVID illness) are listed as questionable.
New England has its own injury concerns, losing Colombian star winger Dylan Borrero for the rest of the season after going down with a left knee injury in the 22nd minute of last weekend’s 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati.
New England (6-1-3) tops the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings on goal difference over Cincinnati. Toronto (2-2-6) sits ninth in the East.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2023
