The drama continues for Toronto FC.

Six days after influential captain Torsten Frings limped out of the season-opening loss in Seattle with a strained hamstring, vice-captain and goalkeeper Stefan Frei left practice in pain and on crutches Friday after a freak accident.

Frei, who has been battling Milos Kocic for the starting position, appeared to catch his leg in the grass while going after a ball during a wet scrimmage at BMO Field.

Frei fell to the ground, curled on his side and clutched his left leg in pain.

Manager Aron Winter halted the game and took the remaining players to the other end of the field while trainers worked on Frei. An air cast was placed on his leg and reporters were ushered away from the field as he was helped up.

“He went to take the ball and make a step to the other side and then he felt something,” Winter said of the incident, which saw diminutive winger Joao Plata bearing down on the ball.

Kocic had been expected to start Saturday against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes (1-1-0). Frei started the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final against the Los Angeles Galaxy but Kocic has played both games since.

Toronto (0-1-0) will have to use one of the league’s so called “pool” goalkeepers as an emergency backup or dip into its academy.

Winter, like his players, did not want to talk about the incident too much, given they did not know the severity of the injury.

“Stefan is a good guy, of course, and also one of the older players on the team,” said Winter, while conceding the team has “been a little bit unlucky.”

Kocic, who is a close friend of Frei’s despite their rivalry, was clearly unsettled by the incident.

“I’m ready (to play but) it’s a little bit disturbing,” said the normally jovial Serb. “I want to think about the game (Saturday), I don’t want to think about the injuries of Torsten, Stefan now. I just want to move forward as a team.”

With five games in 14 days, Toronto FC will be looking to keep Kocic healthy.

“It’s a lot on my back now,” he conceded. “I have to just keep my head up and work hard.”

Frei has played 81 regular season games for Toronto the last three seasons but took a backseat to Kocic as last season ended.

Winter has other issues to resolve in trying to fill the void left by Frings.

Judging from what training that occurred Friday, Winter may look to use de Guzman and Terry Dunfield as holding midfielders in a 4-3-3 formation.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

While Frings was in the lineup, Winter was using the former German international in the middle of the backline of a fluid 3-4-3 formation.

“It’s complicating playing the formation that we play with Torsten,” said Kocic. “Without Torsten we have to make adjustments.”

Frings is expected to be out four to six weeks.