Toronto FC pushed to the limit on centre-back availability as injury list grows | OneFootball

Nicksoen Gomis' no-contact injury combined with uncertainty with Sigurd Rosted and Kevin Long has Toronto FC light at the back.

In the 66th minute against the New England Revolution on Saturday, defender Nicksoen Gomis had to be substituted out of the match as the Frenchman could not put weight on his leg. Kobe Franklin was brought on for Gomis which made Kosi Thompson have to act as a makeshift centre-back for the remainder of the game.

Post-match, head coach Robin Fraser gave an update on the status of the 23-year-old centre-back. To put it lightly, Fraser didn't think Gomis was coming back anytime soon.

Already succumbing to two injuries this season, Gomis is likely to be out for an extended period of time, which will be a worry given the other knocks Toronto defenders are dealing with.

Lining up beside Thompson was 18-year-old Lazar Stefanovic, who has just 106 minutes under his belt this year at the MLS level. The club will hope the issues Rosted and Long are dealing with won't be long-term, but the upcoming match against D.C. United could be a testy one with all the uncertainty.

We can't forget about Zane Monlouis, who joined Toronto FC near the closing of the window from the Arsenal U21 setup and is also out injured. Fraser's ability to switch up the centre-back duo has certainly been tested early in the season, but all things considered, the defence has not been the major problem for the club.

Toronto's 16 goals against through 11 games puts them in the middle of the pack for goals conceded. It needs to be said though that Sean Johnson should be given some massive props for Toronto not being absolutely abysmal in that stat.

Perhaps Sigurd Rosted and Kevin Long will be much healthier come next Saturday, but Robin Fraser will have to clarify that later this week in the post-match presser. Toronto FC, of course, has the option to sign a defender from TFC II to a short-term MLS deal should they feel it is required.

Reid Fisher, who already signed a short-term agreement earlier this season, would be the obvious choice to bring back into the squad. The American centre-back was drafted 23rd overall by Toronto FC in the most recent MLS SuperDraft.

20-year-old Brazilian Ythallo is the second-most senior centre-back with TFC II, who joined the MLS Next Pro side on a permanent deal this winter, having spent last season with the club on loan from Sao Paulo in Brazil.