Toronto FC's Franklin, Zimmerman sidelined for crucial Columbus clash
Defenders Kobe Franklin and Walker Zimmerman will miss Saturday's MLS match against the Crew due to injuries.
TORONTO — Toronto FC will be without defenders Kobe Franklin and Walker Zimmerman for Saturday's crucial MLS match against the Columbus Crew as both recover from injuries.
Franklin is expected to miss a couple of weeks after dislocating his shoulder in last weekend's 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.
"The shoulder came out," head coach Robin Fraser confirmed to reporters on Wednesday. "I think he said three years ago it had happened a couple of times, and it's incredibly painful. It remains sore for a little while, so the feeling is that he should be back in a couple of weeks."
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Fraser said the pain is debilitating when it happens. "It takes a little while to calm down and do some strengthening and rehab and that sort of thing. It'll be a couple of weeks."
The 23-year-old Toronto native started at right-back in place of the suspended Richie Laryea and was forced off in the 28th minute after a sliding tackle along the touchline. He was holding his shoulder as medical staff entered the pitch and was replaced by Jackson Gilman.
Franklin has two goals and two assists in 20 MLS appearances this season.
Zimmerman, meanwhile, has missed the team's last three games with an ankle injury and is "still a little ways off" from returning, according to Fraser.
The American centre-back has been able to rejoin training and is "getting outside and getting back into it, which is obviously a good thing for us," said Fraser.
Zimmerman last appeared in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis City on Sept. 19. He has one goal in 22 MLS appearances this season, including 21 starts.
The defensive absences are offset by the return of suspended defenders Richie Laryea and Benjamin Kuscevic for the trip to Columbus.
Toronto FC is 2-1-2 in its last five games and sits 10th in the Eastern Conference, just out of a playoff spot, heading into the final four games of the MLS campaign.
Columbus, which plays St. Louis CITY SC in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, is also desperate to make a late playoff push, aided by last weekend's win over rivals FC Cincinnati.
Columbus sits in the spot above Toronto FC, the ninth and final playoff position, on the total wins tiebreaker.
With files from Sportsnet, Waking The Red and BVM Sports