With training camp three weeks away, it seems Toronto FC are set to bolster their backline with the signing of Chilean Miguel Aceval. The defender turns 28 on Sunday and can play in the centre of defence or on the left.
Aceval has made one appearance with the Chilean national team, playing in a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in an international friendly last September. He has spent most of his career in his native country since beginning in the youth system of Colo Colo.
Toronto FC are yet to comment on the signing of Aceval, but reports from Chile say a deal has been agreed and it is understood paperwork is currently being finalized. If the signing is completed, his arrival would help strengthen a defence that conceded a league and franchise-worst 59 goals in 2011.
It will be a while before Toronto can call upon their two injured defenders Adrian Cann and Dicoy Williams. They continue to make progress as they recover from injury, but won't be able to participate fully in pre-season.
Winter expects Cann to be the first of the duo ready for action, but that is not expected to be before April at the earliest.
Winter arrived in Fort Lauderdale late Friday night to join the rest of his staff at the MLS Combine. The team's new Academy Director Thomas Rongen watched Day 1 of action in Florida along with Reds assistant coach Bob de Klerk and Director of Player Development Paul Mariner.
Winter told me Friday that he has no intention of trading either of the First Round SuperDraft picks currently held by his club. Check back on Monday for more detailed thoughts from the Toronto boss regarding his philosophy heading into the SuperDraft.
Impact Adding Experienced Coach
One other piece of news coming from the Combine at Fort Lauderdale is an addition to the coaching staff in Montreal. The Impact are bringing in Denis Hamlett as an assistant coach. Hamlett knows Impact Head Coach Jesse Marsch very well from their time together at Chicago Fire and his arrival would provide the Expansion Club with another extremely experienced MLS coach amongst its ranks.
Hamlett was an assistant coach with Vancouver in 2011 but was released from his role at the end of the season. He spent a decade in Chicago as a coach.
TSN 2 will broadcast the 2012 MLS SuperDraft live from Kansas City on Thursday, January 12 at 12pm et/9am pt. Join Luke Wileman for a live chat on TSN.ca.
