Jozy Altidore says it will take a ‘miracle’ for him to play in MLS Cup

Jozy Altidore has missed all of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs with a quad injury he suffered in Toronto FC’s regular-season finale and didn’t even train with the team ahead of the Eastern Conference finals. With a little less than a week before the Sunday’s game against the Seattle Sounders, Altidore doesn’t sound very optimistic about returning.

Missing Altidore would definitely be a blow. Altidore was second on the team in goals (11) and assists (seven), despite playing less than 1,700 minutes and missing 15 of the team’s 37 games (including playoffs). Altidore is also the only player on Toronto FC to have scored a goal at CenturyLink Field where he has three goals, including two in the match there earlier this year.

Assuming Altidore isn’t just playing mind games — a definite possibility — TFC would likely deploy Alejandro Pozuelo as a “false 9” as they had in their previous three matches. Pozuelo, who led the team with 12 goals and 12 assists during the regular season, has two goals and an assist during the playoffs. If Greg Vanney chooses to go with a more traditional set-up, Patrick Mullins is the most likely candidate to fill in for Altidore. Mullins, who was acquired in a midseason trade for Jordan Hamilton, has two goals in eight appearances for TFC.