By DAN KARELL
Jermain Defoe’s arrival in Toronto will have to wait until next week.
The 31-year-old soon-to-be TFC forward was called-up to the England National Team for their friendly match against Denmark on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium. Defoe’s inclusion in head coach Roy Hodgson’s 30-man squad seems to indicate that he still has a chance to make England’s World Cup squad.
Defoe’s selection also could imply that a hamstring injury suffered in training this week may not be serious. Defoe was held out of Tottenham’s Europa League match against FC Dnipro on Thursday because of the injury.
Defoe will now join his new TFC teammates following the England friendly, and have just over one week to prepare for the team’s season opener on March 15.
Here are some more stories from around MLS:
ORLANDO CITY CLOSING IN ON DEAL WITH U.S. U-18 DEFENDER TURNER
A former U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team starter could be joining MLS’ newest club.
Orlando City are close to signing highly-rated defender Tyler Turner to an MLS contract, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel. The deal, which could be announced as early as Thursday afternoon, would make Turner Orlando City’s fourth MLS signing, as they prepare for their inaugural season in 2015.
Turner, who turns 18 on Tuesday, has been training with Orlando City for parts of the preseason, including currently at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. After graduating from U.S. Soccer’s residency program in Bradenton, Turner remained in Florida to play with the IMG Academy team.
According to U.S. Soccer, Turner made 20 appearances from 2011-2013 with the U.S. U-17s, scoring four goals. Since joining the U.S. U-18s, Turner has played in both the Limoges tournament in France and the Copa Del Atlantico tournament in the Canary Islands, Spain.
CREW PAIR, MILLER, SABORIO CALLED UP BY COSTA RICA
Two of the Columbus Crew’s recent offseason signings will have one final chance to impress Costa Rican national team head coach Jorge Luis Pinto.
Costa Rica announced a 23-man roster for their Wednesday friendly against Paraguay, which included Crew defenders Waylon Francis and Giancarlo Gonzalez. New York Red Bulls defender Roy Miller and Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio were also named to the team.
Saborio, Gonzalez, and Miller are regular starters and if fit will surely be heading to the World Cup, having played a majority of Costa Rica’s World Cup qualifying and Gold Cup matches over the past year. Francis meanwhile will be looking to earn just his second international cap.
NESTA TAKES CONSULTING JOB WITH IMPACT
Even though his playing career is over, Alessandro Nesta is keeping close ties with his most recent club, the Montreal Impact.
The decorated former Italian international has rejoined the Impact as a consultant to Frank Klopas’ technical staff, working mainly as a video analyst.
“He will be analyzing video of games, ours and our opponents, while providing scouting reports both post- and pre-game,” Impact sporting director Nick De Santis told the Impact’s website. “With his experience, all the great coaches he’s played for and learned from, his input will be good for us.”
Nesta has expressed in the past that he’d like to become a coach once he decided to retire, and De Santis believes that this consulting job is a first step towards Nesta becoming a coach in the future.
QUICK KICKS
Former Portland Timbers forward Ryan Johnson has joined Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye FC. (REPORT)
The San Jose Earthquakes have loaned midfielder Sam Garza and goalkeeper Dave Bingham to the San Antonio Scorpions of NASL. (REPORT)
The New England Revolution signed second round draft pick Alex Sundly. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these developments? Glad to see Defoe represent TFC with the Three Lions? Do you see Defoe playing Wednesday? Think that Turner would be a steal for Orlando City?
Share your thoughts below.