Toronto FC provide update on Jozy Altidore foot injury

Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore has undergone succesful surgery on his foot and now faces a six-week recovery period, the club has confirmed.

Altidore is one of the most decorated players in the league having led TFC to MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield titles in 2017 among a host of other honours. The 31-year-old is behind only Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan (both 57) among United States' Men's National Team goalscorers, too, netting 42 times in 115 caps.

But Altidore is uncapped since 2019 and has played just 27 times for TFC since the start of 2020, scoring four times, with a number of different injuries keeping him sidelined.

His latest setback required Altidore to travel to New York to get a second opinion on a foot injury, with the former Sunderland striker ultimately undergoing surgery in a bid to fix the problem.

"Jozy Altidore underwent successful surgery on his right foot today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York," read an official statement from TFC on Thursday.

"Altidore was in New York to receive a second opinion on what has become a chronic injury and it was decided that he should undergo the procedure immediately. Recovery is expected to take up to six weeks."

The Canadian side also revealed midfielder Ralph Priso is to undergo surgery on his right ankle, with the promising 19-year-old expect to miss the rest of the season as a result.

Priso only sustained the injury carrying out an attack that was later flagged offside. Interim head coach Javier Perez has since blasted the ruling where linesmen are encouraged to keep their flag down, citing this incident as an example of what can go wrong.

“It’s not only my opinion, I think everybody is frustrated. I think it’s frustrating for the referees.” Perez said when asked about the play during TFC's 2-1 defeat to the New England Revolution.

“When you have that rule, you cannot go by the book. You have to go by common sense. I think we see it over and over again, we talk all the time — coaches, referees — that this is going to happen one day. Just by not getting the (offside) call (right away) and let it play, an injury or severe injury was going to happen. And that was us (on Saturday) and I think whoever was making that decision — that decision of giving that extra time before putting the flag up — they have to re-evaluate that rule. Because right now it’s costing us a player who was in great form.

“I think it’s a rule that everybody acknowledges at this point that needs to be reviewed."

The double injury serves a further blow to Toronto's already disastrous season. The Reds currently prop up the Eastern Conference with just three wins from 20 games so far.