TORONTO—Jermain Defoe is done for the season.
Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney confirmed that Defoe is still bothered by a nagging abdominal problem and that he won’t play in the team’s final Major League Soccer game of the campaign on Saturday, away to the New England Revolution.
Vanney told reporters after Tuesday’s practice that Defoe, who underwent a scan late last week, is currently rehabbing the injury with the team’s medical staff. The English striker won’t practise with the team at all this week.
“I don’t think he’ll be available for the weekend. He’s in progressive treatment and rehab. I have not heard the latest from the report of the scan, but I don’t think he’s prepared to play [Saturday],” Vanney stated.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
Defoe, 32, leads the team in scoring this year with 11 goals in 19 MLS appearances, although he has missed 14 games through injury and suspension.
The former Tottenham star sat out six matches in a two-month period with the same abdominal issue before returning to action for Toronto as a second-half substitute against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 4. He aggravated the injury after playing two more games and he missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact, a result that officially eliminated TFC from playoff contention.
Defoe signed a four-year deal with Toronto FC this past February as part of the club’s massive off-season makeover. He was nearly sold off during the summer transfer window, and in the fallout the Englishman was non-committal when asked about his future in Toronto beyond 2014.
This latest news will leave fans wondering whether or not Defoe is committed to the team long-term, and if he has played his final game in a TFC uniform.
Vanney was pressed by reporters on Tuesday as to whether Defoe or any other player have expressed a desire to leave this off-season. TFC’s coach replied that he hadn’t heard from anybody specifically that they don’t want to remain at the club.
“I’m pretty sure that most of the guys want to be here. If there are guys who don’t want to be here, they haven’t told me directly. Those conversations will happen after the last game. We’ll figure where we’re at as we build into next season,” Vanney said.
Defoe was at the team’s Downsview practice facility on Tuesday, but he declined to talk to the media.
Gilberto’s future
The future of Gilberto became the hot topic of discussion last week when local reporter Duane Rollins tweeted the Brazilian forward wants out of Toronto FC, and that the club will sell him when the transfer window opens again in January.
This correspondent on Tuesday asked Gilberto directly if he was angling to leave TFC. The Brazilian said the report wasn’t true, but at the same time he left room open for the possibility that he might not be in Toronto next season.
“The season’s not done yet, we still have another game to go. Now’s really not the time to be talking about transfers. It’s not even up to me, it’s up to the club. … It’s not in my hands,” Gilberto said through a translator.
He later added: “I’m happy here. I have no complaints about being in Toronto.”
NOTES: Star midfielder Michael Bradley didn’t train with the team on Tuesday because he had a medical checkup over a lingering foot problem. Bradley had a minor procedure on his foot earlier this season, but Vanney expects him to be fit to play on Saturday. “I have him in [my plans] for the weekend until I hear differently,” Vanney said.
