While Toronto FC has been positive on the progress of Adrian Cann from a 2011 ACL surgery, the club admitted in December that the recovery of his defensive partner Dicoy Williams from a similar operation hasn’t been quite as smooth.
“(Williams) doesn’t seem to be progressing as quickly,” Toronto director of player development Paul Mariner observed last month in an interview with Larry Millson.
RELATED: Cann sets early return target
Williams had found his place in Aron Winter’s squad last season with seven starts in eight games, when he was called up for Jamaica at the 2011 Gold Cup. There the Reggae Boyz’ starting centre back suffered ACL and LCL injuries inside the opening minutes of a match against Guatemala on June 10. He has watched from the sidelines since.
"After a while you just got to accept that you're injured and move on and try (to) get back," Williams told the Jamaica Observer recently, having come to terms with the toiling process of knee rehabilitation. Like Cann, the 25-year old Williams spent time at Athletes’ Performance in Los Angeles to aid his recovery.
When Toronto begins training later this month, Williams accepts that he will be a step or two behind.
"I think when I'm back I'm going to play a couple practice matches, reserve games and see how that feels before I start playing for Toronto.”
Losing two first choice centre backs last season forced TFC to be creative with its post-July arsenal. The Reds found success in a makeshift 3-4-3 formation with experienced midfielder Torsten Frings playing from a deep-lying position to help limit defensive errors. Williams hopes he can return to 2011 form and provide the Reds another option.
"I played like eight games, but the games that I played I guess were very good, so they gave me the opportunity to be back,” Williams revealed, adding that Toronto is “a very good city” and that he is “grateful for the opportunity to be back.”
But, when Williams steps off the airplane at Pearson in mid-January a date with the physical therapist won’t be an immediate concern.
“I hear when I go back in January and February it's the coldest part of (Toronto weather), but I'm up to the task... getting prepared for it."
