Toronto FC's Insigne to take part in MLS All-Star skills challenge

Newly arrived Toronto FC winger Lorenzo Insigne will take part in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, part of the festivities surrounding the Aug. 10 game between the MLS and Liga MX all-stars at Minnesota United's Allianz Field.

Insigne and nine other MLS players will compete Aug. 9 against 10 Liga MX players over five skills — a shooting challenge, touch challenge, cross and volley challenge, passing challenge and crossbar challenge. Insigne will be joined by fellow newcomer Hector Herrera of the Houston Dynamo, the Mexican national team captain who like Insigne came to MLS during the league's secondary transfer window that opened July 7.

The other eight MLS players in the skills challenge are each all-stars, including Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United.

Insigne, a former Napoli captain, has yet to take the field for Toronto because of a calf issue. The hope is he will make his debut, along with fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi, against visiting Charlotte FC on Saturday.

MLS All-Stars Skills Roster

Sebastian Driussi, M, Austin FC; Jesus Ferreira, F, FC Dallas; Javier Hernandez, F, Los Angeles Galaxy; Hector Herrera, M, Houston Dynamo; Carles Gil, M, New England Revolution; Lorenzo Insigne, F, Toronto FC; Sean Johnson, GK, NYCFC; Hany Mukhtar, M, Nashville Dayne St. Clair, GK, Minnesota United; Emanuel Reynoso, M, Minnesota United.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2022