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TORONTO — Toronto FC will need more depth when it enters its second Major League Soccer season next year, and with one game still left this season, the search has already begun.
In an attempt to find more help at striker, Toronto will take a look at a player who has played in the top leagues in Spain, England and Italy and also in the World Cup.
Savo Milosevic will arrive in Toronto today and take part in training at BMO Field tomorrow and Friday.
He'll also take in the club's final game of the season on Saturday against the New England Revolution at BMO Field.
The search won't end there. There is a list of more than 20 players that Toronto will consider, and there's also the possibility of trades within MLS.
Milosevic is 34 and that will probably work against him, even if he does well in his trial. The Serbian striker's contract with Osasuna of Spain's La Liga ran out at the end of last season and was not renewed after he scored four goals in 23 league games (18 starts). He scored 24 goals for the club from 2004 to 2007.
He played in three games and had no goals for Serbia and Montenegro in the World Cup last year and retired from international competition with 35 goals in 101 matches.
Milosevic is listed at 6 foot 1 and 172 pounds. After scoring 64 goals in 98 games for Partizan Belgrade from 1992 to 1995, he moved to Aston Villa of England's Premier League, where he scored 29 goals in 90 games from 1995 to 1998.
The scoring touch returned with a move to Spain, and he scored 38 goals in 72 games for Real Zaragoza from 1998 to 2000. He scored nine goals in 31 games for Parma in Italy and then played on loan for Real Zaragoza, Espanyol and Celta Vigo before joining Osasuna.
Toronto is also planning to add to the organization in other ways. One is hiring a strength and conditioning coach. And look for the club to announce the hiring of Paul Winsper, who has worked for Newcastle United in England's Premier League. Winsper worked with Toronto FC for 10 days before season this year.
As for Saturday, there is a good chance striker Danny Dichio will play, probably as a substitute and probably just after the half. He has had a few injuries this season and has not played since Aug. 25 after suffering a foot injury during training in early September at the Ontario Soccer Centre.
Dichio leads Toronto scorers with five goals.
He trained with the team yesterday and looked as good as can be expected. More will be known after Friday's workout about how far he will be able to go on Saturday.
Defender Jim Brennan, who missed the past two games with a knee injury after playing every minute of the season before that, said he is looking to playing on Saturday.
Brennan watched yesterday's workout, and head coach Mo Johnston said he would like to see him train with the team before making a decision on Brennan's status.
Carl Robinson (Wales), Maurice Edu (United States) and Andrew Boyens (New Zealand) are expected back from international commitments in time for the game on Saturday.
Defenders Marco Reda and Adam Braz are suspended from the game. Reda picked up a red card last Saturday in Toronto's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy and that carries an automatic suspension for the next game.
Braz picked up a yellow card in the match and the accumulation of cautions puts him out for Saturday.
