Toronto FC star striker Sebastian Giovinco ruled out for Vancouver game
Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney is getting to dip deeper into his first-team squad a little earlier than expected this season.
Canadian international Tosaint Ricketts moved up the depth chart for Saturday’s game in Vancouver after star striker Sebastian Giovinco was ruled out with a charley horse. Fullback Steven Beitashour, a former Whitecap, was due to undergo a concussion protocol test Wednesday to see if he would even be available for consideration.
Backup midfielder Benoit Cheyrou is in his native France, finishing work on his coaching badges. And newly acquired Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez, after getting a routine maintenance knee injection, is likely to see limited action at best given the artificial turf at B.C. Place Stadium.
Of course, Toronto (0-0-2) is likely to get little sympathy from the well-travelled Whitecaps (0-1-1) who were beaten 3-2 in San Jose last Saturday and 2-0 by Tigres UANL in Monterrey on Tuesday night in CONCACAF Champions League play.