As the New York Red Bulls head north to take on Toronto FC, head coach Jesse Marsch is prepared to utilize a healthy Daniel Royer to bolster his attack.
After missing seven games with a hyperextended knee and bone bruising, the winger played 15 minutes in his return on Wednesday as a substitute.
“It’s really good to be back, I feel quite good,” Royer said after training on Friday. “It was a long time that I was out. I’ve tried to work every single day to get back in shape and to bring good performances.”
Royer has enjoyed a successful year prior to his injury with 10 goals and two assists in MLS, and earned Alcatel MLS Player of the Month honors in July.
With health restored, Royer is focused on defeating a ‘really good team at home’ in Toronto FC.
“We all know Toronto is a really good team,” Royer said. “But we go there to annoy them, to show what we’re about.
“Our effort and our performances didn’t really pay off in our last games, but at some point they will and so we’re going to throw everything into it.”
Although the Red Bulls have struggled in September, Royer recognizes the positives in New York’s game and knows the team will be at its best and ‘ready to get a good result.’
“There are a lot of positive things in our games,” Royer said. “We create a lot of opportunities, I think we’re good in the fore-checking and the counter-pressing and all the things that makes us us and we just need to get some small details in the correct way. There are a lot of reasons to be confident.”
