Toronto FC and the week ahead: 5 stories to watch

Toronto FC returns from its hiatus and continues its playoff push when it hosts Austin FC on Saturday.

Here's what to look for from TFC this week: 

Toronto FC back at it following international break

Toronto FC has been off since Aug. 31 when it suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to D.C. United in MLS.

After a 14-day break, TFC will be back in action on Saturday with an important home game vs. Austin FC.

Toronto (10-15-3, 33 points) currently sits eighth in the Eastern Conference, one spot above the playoff cutoff line, with six matches remaining in the regular season. All seven teams directly below the Reds in the table are within seven points and five of them have a game in hand – the New England Revolution (27 points) have two games in hand.

TFC can ill afford to let the trailing pack get any closer to them, which means a a home win against Austin would give their playoff hopes a huge boost. Dropped points would open the door for D.C. to overtake them for eighth in the table.

TFC 2 report: Young Reds fall short in Alonso Coello’s return

The Spanish midfielder’s return to action following a lengthy injury layoff wasn’t enough to propel the Young Reds to victory.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

How will the Reds respond from D.C. loss?

Coach John Herdman didn't mince words following a complacent performance by his team against D.C United.

“There's 23 players going to be fit and available and healthy for the next two weeks. We have to make sure that every man is ready for that fight. From a training perspective, it will be again for two weeks back to basics to allow those intense sessions to allow people to compete for places,” Herdman said.  

He later added: “It’ll be intense at training, and I’ll be encouraging that fight and scrap for places and what you might see in this next game is just a different look, for guys who have been fighting and trying to show that they are ready to really push. So, I’ll be provoking that for sure and they’ll be provoking that within us. We’ve got to bring our best now.”  

It was a stern warning from Herdman. Nobody is safe. Nobody has a starting spot locked down. Nobody is a guaranteed starter. Playing time and opportunities will be earned and not given out based on reputations and track records. 

With this in mind, it'll be interesting to see what kind of lineup changes, if any, he makes on Saturday against Austin.

Alonso Coello could return to action

Alonso Coello appears to be ready to come back for Toronto FC after a lengthy injury layoff.

Last weekend, the Spanish midfielder played 45 minutes before being subbed out at the start of the second half of TFC 2's penalty shootout loss in MLS NEXT Pro. Coello had been sidelined since picking up a hamstring injury in a 3-0 road loss to the New York Red Bulls on June 22.

Coello, 24, has one goal and two assists 19 MLS appearances (15 starts) this season for Toronto.

The Spaniard could get another run out with TFC 2 in their midweek game, unless John Herdman decides he's ready for first team action and brings him back for Saturday's contest vs. Austin.

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Still waiting for Brandon Servania

Alonso Coello might not be the only player to return this weekend for Toronto after being sidelined with a long-term injury.

Fellow midfielder Brandon Servania suffered an ACL injury during TFC's 4-0 loss away to Inter Miami on Sept. 20, 2023. That ended up ruling him out for the rest of the season.  

Servania, 25, had surgery to repair his left knee last fall. Since then, he went through rehabilitation and worked out on his own to get back to full fitness.

During the last month, he returned to full training with the Reds for the first time since the injury and came on as a second half substitute for TFC 2 away to Atlanta United 2 in MLS NEXT Pro on Aug. 11. He's been on the bench recently as an unused substitute.

More roster moves for Reds still a possibility

The closure of the MLS secondary transfer window last month means teams can't make any more trades involving players or transfer signings for the rest of the 2024 season. 

However, clubs can still sign free agents – players who are out of contract or unattached – so long as they do so by Friday's MLS roster freeze date. 

MLS teams can also loan or sell a player to a non-MLS club, make trades for assets (draft picks, international roster spots, general allocation money, etc.), sign homegrown players from their youth academies, and call up players from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliates on short-term loans.

(Top photo courtesy of Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)

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