TORONTO – It appears that a season full of frustration has come to end for Toronto FC striker Danny Koevermans.
The big Dutchman has struggled to regain fitness all season long as he battled back the ACL injury suffered last July that prematurely ended his 2012 campaign. Various injuries have limited Koevermans to only four appearances in 2013.
The 34-year-old Designated Player was reported to have been approaching match readiness last week, but a calf injury prevented him from appearing in TFC’s 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City this past Saturday.
“Danny is probably out for the season,” TFC coach Ryan Nelsen told MLSsoccer.com. “He has a calf injury and it is going to be tight and hard for him [to get fit again before the season ends].”
Prior to his ACL injury last season, the former Netherlands international was arguably the most effective striker to have ever worn a TFC kit. Nelsen has often expressed his belief that Toronto’s 2013 season likely would have been more successful had Koevermans been fit and in top form leading the line for the Reds.
“He unfortunately just can’t get over that last hurdle,” Nelsen said. “It is a shame and I feel bad for Danny. I also feel bad for everybody because we really needed him.”
Nelsen admitted the fitness struggles that Koevermans has endured this season are not uncharacteristic for an older player coming off a major injury.
“Generally, it happens after a serious injury like that,” Nelsen explained. “You can have niggles and all that and it must be mentally hard as well. When you know your time is running out and you are in the twilight of your career, an injury at that age has a double or triple effect on you mentally.”
With MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke recently being very vocal in his desire to bring two new Designated Players to Toronto, it appears that Koevermans has not only made his last appearance this season, but that his time at TFC has possibly come to an end as well.
However, Nelsen did leave the door open a sliver with respect to Koevermans returning next season.
“I think we’ll sit down at the end of the season and talk to him,” Nelsen stated.
