Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Toronto FC continued to add players on Thursday, signing Israel international defender Tal Ben Haim on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
The Canadian club conceded in the final ten minutes again on Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss to San Jose, forcing Ryan Nelsen to demand some new faces in the team. In response, team President and General Manager Kevin Payne reached out to bring a former teammate of Nelsen’s to BMO Field.
“Tal Ben Haim has been one of the top defenders in the EPL for nearly a decade. He captains his national team and Ryan thinks the world of him,” Payne told TorontoFC.ca. “He’s exactly the sort of veteran defender we need.”
Ben Haim just signed with QPR in the January window after trailing with the club under Harry Redknapp for some time, where he made six appearances in all competitions. Prior to his time at QPR, Ben Haim played with Portsmouth, West Ham, Sunderland, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bolton, and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He made over 300 appearances in nine seasons in England.
Here are some more stories to get you caught up around the league:
SALGADO TO HAVE A THIRD FOOT SURGERY
Vancouver Whitecaps forward Omar Salgado has had surgery on his troublesome right foot for the third time after suffering yet another setback in his road to recovery, according to a report out of Vancouver. (UPDATE: The Whitecaps have confirmed the report).
Salgado initially suffered the injury last June while playing with the U.S. U-20 team. After attempting to come back in October, the 19-year-old suffered a stress fracture and hasn’t seen the field since. The most recent surgery was reportedly to repair a tendon in the ailing right foot.
The former first overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft has tested the patience of manager Martin Rennie while he waits on Salgado’s return. The El Paso, Texas native has made just 21 appearances in three years for the club, with just one goal, coming in the forward’s first MLS start.
LUYINDULA INJURES HAMSTRING, OUT FOR NEXT MATCH
New York Red Bulls forward Peguy Luyindula was forced off in the 25th minute of Wednesday’s night’s 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact with a left hamstring injury.
After the match, Luyindula’s left leg was heavily wrapped and bandaged. It was the 33-year-old’s first start since coming back from another hamstring issue suffered in an early April match against Chicago, leaving the Red Bulls forward baffled as to why or how the injury occurred.
“I was feeling really good today, it surprised me,” Luyindula said.”I took the ball, I tried to dribble, I made some good runs, and I was okay.”
“It’s really rare for me, because I’ve never had this in my career,” said Luyindula about having two hamstring injuries in a row.
Luyindula was given a scan after the match, and although he said there was no timetable for his return, Luyindula confirmed that he wouldn’t be playing in the Red Bull’s next match, this Saturday against the New England Revolution.
“No, I’m off for Saturday,” Luyindula added. “It’s impossible.”
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What do you make of these reports? Do you see Ben Haim succeeding in Toronto? Do you see Salgado playing for the Whitecaps this season? What do you think of the Luyindula injury?