COLUMBUS, Ohio, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago winger Kevin Molino will miss the start Friday of the Premier League Football season, after being ruled out for up to two months with a recurring hamstring injury.
The 30-year-old was due to start for the new Columbus Crew SC club he signed back in January in a multi-year deal on free agency, having left Minnesota United FC.
However, he now finds himself on the other side for the first of seven league games with next Sunday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Union, and will also miss out in the final eight of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Crew head coach Caleb Porter said while Molino would be a huge loss, it was vital for him to recover properly in order to be at his best.
“He had three or four minor ones (injuries), and I think what we’re seeing with him is that he needs a thorough type of return to play, and to address some of the issues he has had in the past that they may not have corrected, ”said Porter.
“These are tough, these injuries, and we definitely want him in now, but it’s really important that we get it right and strengthen that thing, and we don’t want a bunch of hammering issues this year. ”
At best, the Crew does not expect Molino to be available until mid-June, hopefully following the MLS two-week break.
Molino enjoyed an outstanding season for Minnesota, scoring four goals in three playoff games to finish with nine goals and two assists.
Overall, Molino has netted 32 goals along with 27 assists from MLS’s 104 regular-season outings.