June 3, 2008 MLS Toronto FC back in training (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
06/03/2008 1:27PM
TFC players returning to training
Tuesday news and notes
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto FC returned to training on Tuesday at BMO Field to begin preparations for Sunday's game at Houston Dynamo. A number of players are away on international duty but are expected to join the side for the game against Houston.
Tyrone Marshall has now linked up with the Jamaica squad after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the win against LA Galaxy. Mo Edu, Jim Brennan, Greg Sutton and Amado Guevara are also away. "I'm hoping that everyone apart from Amado will join up with the squad ahead of the Houston game," said coach John Carver. Carl Robinson returned to training on Tuesday after missing the Galaxy game away playing for Wales.
"We've eased off a bit with the guys who've been playing most of the games. We just did a light training session today and the younger players who've not been in the games did a full session," said Carver.
Carver now has plenty of competition for places in the team. "My philosophy is that if someone comes in and does well, they keep the shirt. But I have got to manage the situation as well. For example, I need to see how Mo Edu is when he gets back from Spain, because he's played in England, Toronto and Spain in the space of seven days. I need to have a look and see how he is. That's an example of how I need to manage the situation," he said.
"From day one, I have said that if someone comes in and does well, they will stay in the team. I've said that to all of the players who went on international duty. It's great that they've had the chance to play for their country, but there are guys sitting waiting to fill their space, and if they do enough to keep the shirt, they keep the shirt. When everyone is fit I'll make my decisions on what I've seen on the training ground and in the games. But with all of these guys going away, there's a lot that could happen. Players could come back injured. They're not in our environment so we have no control over things."
Alex Francis and Olivier Bernard trained with the team on Tuesday. "Alex is young midfielder who has been released by Newcastle. He's been here for a few days for me to have a look at," said Carver.
Bernard, 29, played for five seasons with Newcastle United in the Premier League and is training with Toronto to regain fitness after an injury. "He's had an operation on his hip and because we worked with him at Newcastle, we're doing him a favour to get him fit," Carver explained. "He's just here having a bit of a holiday and he's friends with Laurent Robert. He's just here to get himself fit after his surgery."
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