Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco reaches for the ball against the Columbus Crew during second half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, May 21, 2016. Star striker Sebastian Giovinco had an MRI Monday with Toronto FC hopeful the Italian will soon be back."There's no indication there'd be anything longterm. The question, I think, is whether he will or won't be available for (Wednesday)," coach Greg Vanney said before practice Monday evening at BMO Field. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
May 30, 2016 - 4:06 PM
TORONTO - Star striker Sebastian Giovinco had an MRI Monday with Toronto FC hopeful the Italian will soon be back.
"There's no indication there'd be anything longterm. The question, I think, is whether he will or won't be available for (Wednesday)," coach Greg Vanney said before practice Monday evening at BMO Field.
The 29-year-old Italian did not train Monday and Wednesday night's Amway Canadian Championship game against the visiting Montreal Impact would seem an improbable comeback despite an optimistic Giovinco saying he felt good.
Toronto does need to rush him back with its next league game not until June 18 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Giovinco exited in the 22nd minute of Saturday's 3-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls. It seemed a non-contact injury with Giovinco gesturing to the bench for a substitution and pulling off the captain's armband.
"In talking to him, he feels like he got out before he felt like there was too much (damage) there sustained." said Vanney. "We'll find out when we get the read (of the MRI). That will be the telling thing for us."
Results from the MRI were expected later Monday. The early word on the weekend was an adductor injury.
Giovinco is key to the Toronto offence, especially with fellow striker Jozy Altidore out with a hamstring injury. The Italian has been directly involved in 13 of Toronto's 14 goals this season, scoring eight and assisting on five.
If an injury had to happen, now is not such a bad time. The MLS is taking a break during the European Championship and Copa America.
Still Vanney said the club wants to perform well in the Canadian Championship, whose winner advances to the CONCACAF Champions League.
"We value this event and we're planning accordingly. But we also understand the risk of (playing) certain guys and not pushing guys who aren't going to be ready to go."
Despite standing five foot four and weighing 145 pounds and being surrounded by much bigger men in the physical North American league, Giovinco has proved to be very durable. The Atomic Ant played in 33 of 34 league games last season and had been on the field every minute this season prior to coming off Saturday.
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News from © The Canadian Press, 2016