TORONTO

Prior to Max Urruti’s arrival two weeks ago, Toronto FC president and general manager Kevin Payne spoke of an additional signing, a player “fans will be very excited about.”

“I want people to understand we are still looking at two significant signings in the near future, neither of which is subject to the transfer window,” Payne told the Sun.

Well, Urruti, the player management believes will change Toronto’s attacking fortunes in the near future, finally arrived.

The other player still hasn’t.

It doesn’t mean the second aforementioned difference-maker isn’t coming, but the likelihood of such a move occurring this season decreases with every passing day.

“In terms of an impact player, a DP, that will most likely be next year when we get it right,” TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen said following Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Washington D.C.

“It’s the spot we want to get right. We’re not going to bring somebody in for the sake of bringing somebody in. They have to be the right fit. Everything has to be right for us to pull that move. We don’t want to make a mistake.”

The Reds, according to multiple reports, attempted to snatch up Atalanta midfielder Maxi Moralez ahead earlier this month ahead of the summer transfer window slamming shut, but Nelsen’s midweek jaunt to Europe yielded negative results.

Before that, rumours surrounding Diego Forlan’s impending arrival came and went. As did the opportunity to sign Clint Dempsey, a player TFC looked at but decided not to pursue.

“I have no problem working with these players that I have,” Nelsen said of his current roster. “They work really hard and they’re good young players. They’re going to be around the club for several years. They’re maturing and getting better and better each game.”

Fair enough, but in a results-based business Nelsen doesn’t have much more time to fall back on youth as an excuse for the club’s poor record, especially when promises regarding players are going unanswered.

INJURY A DOUBLE-WHAMMY

Dwayne De Rosario’s stunning opener against TFC over the weekend deserves a re-visit.

Not because of its world-class quality, but because it may not have happened had Nelsen entered Saturday’s match with a fully fit side.

Not long after De Rosario’s curler, TFC’s Jonathan Osorio hobbled off with a lingering ankle injury.

“When Dwayne got channeled into where Jon Osorio had to take over the defending, he just couldn’t get there with his ankle,” Nelsen said of his 21-year-old rookie, who has performed well above his years in his first season as a professional.

“Unfortunately, if we had a 100% fit player he probably would have put pressure on Dwayne that might have produced a different outcome.”

In hindsight, though, the question had to be asked: Why risk starting a road game with a midfielder who’s anything less than 100% fit, especially with a healthy Darel Russell on the bench and a few players left back in Toronto in reserve?

“I wish I could have made that decision earlier,” Nelsen said. “But Osorio got through the warmup very well and he was happy and the medical team was happy. But something happened in the game where he rolled it. That’s what happens when you have a sore part of your body ... In hindsight we (shouldn’t have started him), but in saying that he might have got through the 90 minutes without a problem. It’s a tough one to answer.”

THINGS TO PONDER

Sunday night’s match between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers was the third largest crowd to attend a soccer game anywhere in the world on the weekend … The 67,385 that packed CenturyLink Field to watch the Sounders top the Timbers 1-0 only trailed Borussia Dortmund (80,645) and Bayern Munich (71,000) in terms of single-game attendance ... It also provoked ESPN to send out the following tweet: “If someone tries to tell you that soccer isn’t a big deal in the US, show them (a) picture of CenturyLink Field.” That tweet was retweeted more than 4,000 times.

WORLD CUP DRAW

Canada’s under-17 men’s national team received a difficult draw on Monday in the United Arab Emirates, where the groups were determined for October’s FIFA under-17 World Cup.

Canada opens the 24-team tournament on Oct. 19 in Dubai against UEFA qualifiers Austria before meeting Iran three days later in Group E.

A pair of positive results will prove crucial ahead of the last group stage date as Canada will meet Argentina on Oct. 25.

The top two finishers from each group then progress to the knockout stage alongside the next best four third-place finishers from each group.

Four players from TFC’s academy were named to the team’s most recent camp in Florida.

Forward Jordan Hamilton and defenders Elias Roubos, Ian Fernandes and Kevon Black are all looking to make Canada’s World Cup roster this fall.