TORONTO – Adrian Cann insists he’s healthy and has been for months, but that doesn’t mean he’s about to get any more minutes for Toronto FC.
The onetime defensive captain is still struggling to return to his old form for last-place TFC and, with just two games left in the Reds’ season, might get not that chance again until 2013.
“It’s very difficult sometimes when you come back from those types of injuries,” assistant coach Jason Bent said of Cann, who came back from a torn ACL in April but has struggled for regular minutes since June. “They’re out for such a lengthy period of time that sometimes you don’t see them returning to what would be their best until the following season.”
Interview: GolTV talks to Cann after training
Cann suffered a torn ACL last year, but he returned to the TFC lineup on April 14 after an intense offseason rehabilitation. He started all but one game in all competitions through June 16 before suffering a second injury, a right knee sprain which led him to be cautious with his recovery.
“I didn’t want to rush into it again, knowing that it might lead to something more severe,” he said. “I didn’t want to re-rupture the ACL, so that’s why I took a little longer. Then, once I got back, the starting lineup was already set up. It was hard mentally.”
That recovery shelved him until he returned to the starting lineup on Aug. 15. But since then he’s appeared just once off the bench, despite assuring his knee is no longer an issue.
“Now it’s OK, it’s good,” he said. “Every injury that you incur you’ll never be the same again. Whether it’s an ankle or whatever, it changes you forever, but at the same time you’ve got to adapt and just get on with it.”
At 32 years old and likely facing the fewest appearances of his three years in Toronto, Cann said Monday that he’s committed to earning his way back into the fold for TFC, regardless of how long it might take.
“Things happen,” Cann said. “It is difficult not being healthy and not playing in games because for me it’s all about playing in matches to show what I’m about. I’ve got to wait until my time comes to do my thing.”
Larry Millson covers Toronto FC for MLSsoccer.com.
